Emma Bontrager

I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment.

I will tend to a garden, or prepare for one, each day using sustainable gardening practices.

I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during Drawdown Ecochallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation, and commit to reducing my food waste throughout the challenge.

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 180 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

I will explore the interactive map in the links below to find a supermarket that does not use HFC refrigerants near my home.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about the legacy of redlining and how city planning and environmental justice issues are interconnected.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about green gentrification and how it relates to city planning for climate action.

I will connect with a local nonprofit working on issues affecting women, girls, trans people, and/or nonbinary people in my community, and find out how I can get involved or become a member.

I will use seaweed in a new recipe.

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

I will replace or remove the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products in my current diet that are known to contribute to deforestation.

I will visit a coastal or ocean site to experience the ecosystem and look for the presence of macroalgae/seaweed.

I will replace 2 incandescent lightbulbs with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin practicing it in my own life.

I will start a compost or worm bin where I live.

I will spend 60 minutes researching and shopping from 10 businesses owned by women, people of color, or immigrants.

When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will research and recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community, including electronics and metals.

I will take a walk for 15 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.