Alanna Abel

I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during Earth Month Ecochallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation.

Southern California has some of the world's most famous beaches. However, due to tourism and poor waste management, many beaches have plastic, Styrofoam, and synthetic refuse scattered across the sands, which end up in the oceans and will inevitably affect sea life. The goal is to pick up what trash you see and dispose of it properly (i.e. recycle plastics/glasses in the correct bin, etc) every time you are at the beach .

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option. If my utility does not offer one, I will purchase Renewable Energy Credits to match my usage.

I will spend 30 minute(s) learning about biochar and how it can help sequester carbon.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

I will donate to supply a community with reproductive health supplies.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching how people can build with carbon-storing materials - including agricultural byproducts - and discuss it with my peers in person or by posting to social media.

I will visit seafoodwatch.org or download the app and commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean.

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 60 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

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

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

I will fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities. Fixing leaky faucets can save up to 9 gallons (34 L) of water a day or 270 (1,020 L) gallons of water a month per faucet.

I will plan ahead to only use paper products made from post-consumer recycled paper for my home or office.

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 50 friends, family and/or colleagues.

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 0.11lbs (0.05kg) a day or 3.3lbs (1.6kg) a month by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.

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, making sure to not contaminate recyclables with non-recyclables.

I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus.

Cheap, single-use items and disposable packaging end up blowing around as litter more often in poor and BIPOC-majority neighborhoods. I will avoid buying and using 5 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.

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 Practice the "5 Rs" — refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle — to reduce my waste more than I can with just recycling alone.

I will encourage my office to hold meetings virtually whenever possible instead of requiring travel.

I will take a walk for 30 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

I will calculate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce my negative impact on the environment.

I will donate to Native American Rights Fund, which protects tribal natural resources and environmental rights and promotes Native American Human Rights.

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

I will start a compost bin where I live.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

I will source 20 percent of my food from local producers each day. This could include signing up for a local CSA, buying from a farmer's market, visiting a food co-op, foraging with a local group, or growing my own ingredients.

I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.