Duncan MacDonald

Thousands of economists agree that we need to put a price on carbon pollution. There's a 'carbon cashback' bill in Congress introduced this week in the House that will do that - returning money to households. We need to mobilize around this as a best first step (and do everything else in this challenge, too!)

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

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

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

Kick off Earth week with a screening of Gather, "an intimate portrait of the growing movement amongst Native Americans to reclaim their spiritual, political and cultural identities through food sovereignty, while battling the trauma of centuries of genocide."

If I live on campus I'll follow FreeUse on Insta (@bard.freeuse) (and I'll donate there as well) in support of a circular economy.  Away from Bard I will find sustainable clothing options, avoiding fast fashion retailers, valuing long-lived clothing and supporting Bard-born orgs like Thrift to Fight and Cahoots.

Count how many steps it takes to get from one point to another on campus or where you live. For example, count how many steps it takes to get to Kline from Robbins. DM the BardE3 or Bard Office of Sustainability Insta with the number of steps you counted and we’ll use the info to make posts about walkability! @bardsustainability @barde3bos

Compost at Kline, dorm composting bins, or returning food scraps to Kline.

I will source 10 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 1 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

Learn about Indigenous Land Management, Regenerative Agriculture and Food Sovereignty at a screening of Gather, "an intimate portrait of the growing movement amongst Native Americans to reclaim their spiritual, political and cultural identities through food sovereignty, while battling the trauma of centuries of genocide."

Sign up to listen to Solve Climate by 2030 (live on April 7 or recorded)