Problem Statement

Individuals looking to kickstart their sustainability habits, may need an extra push, so they can move the needle on climate action through their own habits, and in turn, grow awareness about ways to make a change.

Target Group

Young professionals (18 to 30), looking to grow their level of understanding on climate action and learn how they can make an impact. 

Proposed Solution

It can take an average of 66 days to build a lasting habit, and habits have a greater chance of sticking with accountability. The Trellis Sustainability Cohort brings together keen climate changemakers across Canada to participate in this experiment focused on supporting these individuals in developing their sustainability-themed habit to make a difference both in their lives, and for our planet. While the cohort is a 2-month term, we hope to see that the change is long-term.

This community, moderated by the Ottawa Global Shapers, provides a framework and community to lean on to achieve their own individually-defined habit while measuring progress. Every cohort member that completes the program will become a Trellis Champion and can use the resources provided to start Trellis cohorts in their own community!

Activities

• 
  Stage 01: 30 changemakers selected
  


• 
  Stage 02: 1 habit defined for each individual
  


• 
  Stage 03: 2 Month Trellis Sustainability Cohort Program
  
  
  • 
    Forest: Cohort moderated via Slack to share resources, build community & encourage habit shaping. Key milestone dates will be set to share progress including 3 virtual meetings and ongoing habit logs
    
  
  
  • 
    Branches: Sub-streams could be defined based on common themes to offer intimate guest speakers on relevant topics.
    
  
  
  • 
    Buds: Each cohort members will be paired with an "accountability bud" to encourage each other to maintain their habit.
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  Stage 04: 
  • A sustainable habit change
  
  

Short-Term Goals/Results

By measuring the habits prior, during, and post the cohort, we can tangibly see whether we have made an impact. Short-term results would be to see each of the cohort participants create a habit change within their own day-to-day life that positively impacts the environment. 

Long-Term Change:

• By evaluating results after the cohort, we can understand whether the habits have made a lasting change, and whether the cohort members have become champions within their own communities to spark change.  


• The lessons learned from the cohort will be shared via social media channels in order to grow awareness and highlight what worked well to encourage others to take the sustainability habit challenge. 

Potential Metrics

• A "habit log" will help determine if we're helping the cohort build lasting habits, and in turn, what the impact of those habits are. Number of people that have established a habit over a specified period of time. 


• Number of people that 'agree' or 'strongly agree' that they have noticed a change in behavior (self-assessment). This will be administered via a survey.


• Number of Trellis cohort participants and graduates


• Number of sessions held


• Measurable social media metrics to grow awareness