Laura DeLio

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

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

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 120 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

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

I will only purchase wood and paper products from ecologically certified sources like Forest Stewardship Council.

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 10 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

I will replace manual thermostats with smart ones.

I will upgrade the windows or weatherstripping in my home or office to reduce air leaks and save on energy costs.

I will find out how to make my home more energy efficient through better insulation and weatherization.

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 sign up for a Master Recycler/Composter program in my area.

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

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 2 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.

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 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 watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).

I will research and support local farmers who have made the decision to not use synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.

I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of trees and plants in my yard.

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

I will make a donation to a nonprofit that installs microgeneration in low income countries.