Veronica Martinez

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

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 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.

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

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 at least 30 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 use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

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 find out who in my city makes decisions that impact neighborhood walkability and express my support for better walking infrastructure.

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

I will start a compost bin where I live.

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

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

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

I will spend 15 minute(s) learning about biochar and how it can help sequester carbon.

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

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

I will research and tell 2 people each day about the benefits of alternative energy sources like wind turbines, solar energy, geothermal energy, and methane digesters.

I will source 30 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 plant 2 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

I will contact 1 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.

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 spend at least 20 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

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

I will take a walk for 45 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.