Louise Jane Wilkinson

I will contact 5 congress people or representatives to advocate for public policy that protects forests and the enforcement of existing anti-logging laws, as well as the rights of local people to protect and restore the land in their communities.

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

I will take a walk for 20 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

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

I will cook 2 meal(s) with zero-waste each day

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

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

I will spend at least 20 minutes finding out if anyone is working on perennial biomass projects in my region and how I can get involved.

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

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

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 eat all of my meals without distractions, e.g., phone, computer, TV, or newspaper.

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

I will give 1 microloan(s) to women who need help starting a business.

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

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

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 spend 120 minutes researching businesses owned by women, immigrants, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color that I can support when shopping.

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 240 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

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

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 find out who in my city makes decisions that impact bike routes and express my support for better biking infrastructure.

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

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.

I will start a compost bin where I live.

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