Jacob Highsmith

I will raise funds to help make school affordable for girls around the world.

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

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

I will spend at least 5 minutes researching other Drawdown Electricity Solutions.

After researching the incentives at the federal, state, utility, and local levels, I will contact a local installer/distributor for a solar panel installation consultation on my house.

I will create a plan to and advocate for solar installation at my business, apartment building, or campus.

I will use my spending power to reward companies leading in creating or purchasing green energy and incentivize others to invest more in green energy.

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

I will replace 5 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

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 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 research and tell 1 people each day about the benefits of alternative energy sources like wind turbines, solar energy, geothermal energy, and methane digesters.

I will save up to 15 gallons (56 L) of water a day or 450 gallons (1,680 L) a month by installing a low-flow showerhead.

I will reduce the amount of water flushed and save up to 11 gallons (41 L) of water a day or 330 gallons (1,230 L) a month by installing a toilet tank bank.

I will replace manual thermostats with smart ones.

I will donate to nonprofits that install clean cookstoves in low-income countries.

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.

Spend 15 minutes browsing the new World Climate Hub website, hosted by Deloitte US Sustainability!

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

I will spend at least 5 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

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

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 spend at least 5 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 3 friends, family and/or colleagues.

I will set up a recycling center at my workplace or school.

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.

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

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 spend 5 minute(s) learning about the climate impact of refrigerants and what climate-friendly refrigerants are by using the links below.

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 5 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 spend 5 minute(s) learning about biochar and how it can help sequester carbon.

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

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 spend at least 5 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

I will spend 5 minutes researching businesses owned by women, immigrants, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color that I can support when shopping.

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

I will donate 5 Femme Kit(s) to help people who menstruate overcome health and sanitation barriers to being able to attend school.

I will spend at least 5 minutes researching other Drawdown Transportation Solutions.

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

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips, and I will only use muscle-powered transportation for all other trips.

I will take a walk for 5 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

I will assess the vehicles used by my company or college and advocate for a purchasing policy focused on electric and fuel-efficient vehicles

I will spend at least 5 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.

I will spend at least 5 minutes researching other Drawdown Buildings Solutions.

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning about the legacy of redlining and how city planning and environmental justice issues are interconnected.

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning about green gentrification and how it relates to city planning for climate action.

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 spend 5 minutes researching the environmental benefits of peatlands and what is being done around the world to conserve and restore them.

I will spend at least 5 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

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

I will contact 2 elected officials to voice my opinion on the importance of restoring farmland in my region, including both public and private land.

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

I will enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

I will start a compost bin where I live.

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

If you have kids at home, encourage them to create a logo for Deloitte NPSI using scrap paper and any crayons, markers, or materials you have in your home. Email a photo of the final product to Emma Howe (emhowe@deloitte.com) for a chance to be featured in our Earth Month recap email and potential future internal communications!

Sign up for Plant Your Change to round up your purchases and plant one tree for every transaction on your personal credit card. Link to sign up found below!

Spend 15 minutes browsing the new World Climate Hub website, hosted by Deloitte US Sustainability! Link to be added soon.

NPSI will be hosting a month-long giving campaign during April. Donate via the NPSI philanthropy cloud website linked below!

On Wednesday, April 28th, Deloitte NPSI is hosting a panel with senior leaders at the firm to discuss the intersections between climate, health and justice. Invite to be added soon!

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).

I will improve a bus stop in my neighborhood by posting the stop schedule, adding seating or shelter, adding art or flowers, picking up litter, or implementing some other small improvement.