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April 1 - April 30, 2021
Margaret Michel's avatar

Margaret Michel

Deloitte Sacramento

"My mission is to leave the world and mother earth a better place than I found it."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 785 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    1.2
    locally sourced meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    10
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    148
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    35
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    90
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    29
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    29
    zero-waste meals
    consumed

Margaret's actions

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Smart Seafood Choices

Ocean Farming

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Learn about Temperate Forests

Temperate Forest Restoration

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

Tropical Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 5 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Climate Resilience

Learn More about Silvopasture

Silvopasture

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Climate Resilience

Support Local Food Systems

Plant-Rich Diets

I will source 5 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.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

Support Companies Leading in Green Energy

Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaics, Distributed Solar Photovoltaics

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

Advocate For Greener Vehicles

Electric Cars, Hybrid Cars, Efficient Trucks

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

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.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Sinks

Explore My Area

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 90 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Research Peatlands

Peatland Protection and Rewetting

I will spend 10 minutes researching the environmental benefits of peatlands and what is being done around the world to conserve and restore them.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Find a Local Climate-Friendly Supermarket

Refrigerant Management

I will explore the interactive map in the links below to find a supermarket that does not use HFC refrigerants near my home.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Composting

Composting, Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Zero-waste Cooking

Reduced Food Waste

I will cook 3 meal(s) with zero-waste each day

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Smaller Portions

Reduced Food Waste

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

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Reduce Animal Products

Plant-Rich Diets

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

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity

Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

Methane Digesters

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Calculate My Carbon Footprint

All Drawdown Solutions

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

Conduct Virtual Meetings

Telepresence

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Stay on the Ground

Telepresence, High-Speed Rail

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Explore the Deloitte WorldClimate Hub

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Get your family involved in greening the dot!

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!

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Sign up for Plant Your Change

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!

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Explore the Deloitte World Climate Hub

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Donate to the NPSI Earth Month Giving Campaign

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Attend the NPSI Intersections Panel on April 28th

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!

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Improve a Bus Stop

Public Transit

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transportation Go for a Daily Walk
    What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?

    Margaret Michel's avatar
    Margaret Michel 4/30/2021 8:20 AM
    I would love to see more bike lanes in my city! I have noticed a lot of bikes and scooters on the sidewalks which tend to turn my leisurely stroll into more of a game of dodging moving targets. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks Smart Seafood Choices
    Many states and countries have advisories on eating fish. Find out what is advised for your region. Do you think your diet choices fall within these guidelines? What steps do you need to take to make sure that they do?

    Margaret Michel's avatar
    Margaret Michel 4/30/2021 8:19 AM
    I am not a big sea food eater but when I do eat it, I honestly have not paid much attention to the source. After doing more research, I'm committing to use the Monterey Aquarium guide before I buy so I can make the most informed decision possible.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Sinks Research Peatlands
    Much of Indonesia's peatlands have been drained so they could be replaced with palm oil or pulp and paper plantations. How can you make choices that help to protect peatlands, even if you live far away from one?

    Margaret Michel's avatar
    Margaret Michel 4/30/2021 8:11 AM
    I can be an educated consumer and minimize my consumption of palm oil and paper.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Sinks Forest-Friendly Foods 1
    How is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?

    Margaret Michel's avatar
    Margaret Michel 4/30/2021 8:10 AM
    Coffee is my biggest culprit! I've started looking for rainforest alliance certified and shade grown coffee as well as just trying to reduce my overall consumption!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Action Track: Climate Resilience Learn More about Silvopasture
    Had you heard of the term "silvopasture" before now? After learning more about it, what do you think is the biggest advantage of silvopasture?

    Margaret Michel's avatar
    Margaret Michel 4/30/2021 8:07 AM
    I have not heard of it before but realized I have seen it frequently in California (especially compared to the Midwest)! 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Electricity Watch a Video about Methane Digesters
    What does your vision of a sustainable community look like? What would need to be changed in order for such vision to become reality?

    Margaret Michel's avatar
    Margaret Michel 4/30/2021 8:05 AM
    I would love to see more of a circular economy (so more composting and recycling) as well as easier access to bulk goods and "naked" produce. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Electricity Calculate My Carbon Footprint
    What stood out to you most about your carbon footprint? What surprised you or sparked curiosity? Where can you take most immediate action?

    Margaret Michel's avatar
    Margaret Michel 4/30/2021 8:02 AM
    I was really inspired by the shopping category. I ended up "quitting" Amazon to minimize my carbon footprint brought on my shipping and now I have to think if I really need something before I purchase it.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Action Track: Climate Resilience Support Local Food Systems
    Dependable fresh food, supporting local farmers and building resilient communities are just a few benefits of local food systems. Which of these (or other) advantages inspire you the most?

    Margaret Michel's avatar
    Margaret Michel 4/30/2021 8:00 AM
    Dependable fresh food is really important to me since about 19 million people in America live in food deserts.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Action Track: Accelerating Solutions Support Companies Leading in Green Energy
    Every dollar you put into solar or wind is a dollar not put into traditional financial institutions. You'll also be bolstering the fossil fuel divestment movement, too. Name some companies you know that invest in green energy. How can you support them?

    Margaret Michel's avatar
    Margaret Michel 4/30/2021 7:58 AM
    I use my Roth IRA to invest in renewable energy stocks!

  • Margaret Michel's avatar
    Margaret Michel 4/30/2021 7:54 AM
    I've been more focused on my literal waste (plastic, consumer goods, etc.) and less focused on my carbon footprint. This has been a great learning experience to help me broaden my view and think beyond what I can physically see!