giovanna chiusaroli

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.

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.

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

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

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 30 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

I will plant 1 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

I will support a community garden by volunteering, donating, or advocating for a new or existing one.

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

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

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 at least 10 minutes researching other Drawdown Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Solutions.

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

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 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.

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

I am really concerned about the impact of rising ocean temperatures and plastics on whales, sea turtles, and other ocean mammals.

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

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

I will replace 4 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 spend at least 10 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

Through social media, I will raise awareness about gender inequity in education by sharing the information found in the links below.

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

I will start a compost bin where I live.

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 take a walk for 10 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

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

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching other Drawdown Electricity Solutions.

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

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

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

I will Practice the "5 Rs" — refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle — to reduce my waste more than I can with just recycling alone.