Earth Month Ecochallenge 2022: Sustainable Development Goals

April 1 - April 30, 2022

Ally Ford

CSUMB Climate Solutions Online Team

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
346 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

34

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

4.0

zero-waste meals

consumed
UP TO

22

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

0.7

pounds

food waste prevented
UP TO

20

conversations

with people
UP TO

1.4

pounds of CO2

have been saved

Ally's actions

Education & Livelihood

Plan A Staycation in Your Community

SDG #11 Communities

For an upcoming vacation, I will plan a staycation in my region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health & Equity

Safe Disposal of Medications and Household Chemicals

SDG #3 Health & Well-Being

I will spend 5 minutes learning about how and where to dispose of medications and chemicals properly.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health & Equity

Learn About Equitable Food Access

SDG #10 Reduced Inequalities

I will spend 10 minutes learning about equitable food access and how I can advocate for healthy and fresh food in my region.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Basic Needs & Security

Make Zero-Waste Meals

SDG #2 Zero Hunger

I will cook 1 meal(s) with zero waste each day.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Health & Equity

Cleaning Product Ingredients

SDG #3 Health & Well-Being

I will spend 10 minutes each day studying the toxic chemicals found in cleaning supplies, personal care, and pet products around my home.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Climate & Ecosystems

Support Local Pollinators

SDG #15 Life On Land

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 10 minutes researching which plants support local pollinators and plant some in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Basic Needs & Security

Support A Renters Bills of Rights

SDG #1 No Poverty

Of nearly 44 million U.S. renter households in 2019, more than 45% paid rent equal to 30% or more of their gross household income. I will spend 5 minutes learning about a renters bill of rights and affordable housing.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Education & Livelihood

Engage In Active Listening

SDG #17 Partnerships

I will practice actively listening to a friend, family member, co-worker, peer, or someone who has a different experience/identity for 5 conversations per day.

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Basic Needs & Security

Calculate Your Water Footprint

SDG #6 Water & Sanitation

I will calculate my water footprint and look for a few ways I can reduce consumption or waste.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Education & Livelihood

Share My Positive Actions With My Community

SDG #4 Education

Each day, I will make my sustainable actions visible through a lawn sign, bumper sticker, pin, t-shirt, social media or other ways.

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Economy & Communities

Create A Readiness Plan

SDG #9 Industry & Infrastructure

I will develop a readiness plan for my household in the event of an emergency.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate & Ecosystems

Reduce Single-Use Plastics

SDG #14 & 15

Throughout the day, I will note the single-use plastics I use and consider the reusable options available to me.

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Economy & Communities

What was it like to create a readiness plan? Did you find other resources you could share?
Ally Ford 4/30/2022 7:29 PM
It was pretty cool creating a readiness plan. I decided to focus on an earthquake emergency situation so I packed an emergency bag to better prepare for an earthquake. I packed batteries, water, extra cash, a flashlight, a blanket, a first aid kit, a tarp, some rope, and a portable phone charger. This way in the event of an emergency situation, I can just grab my emergency bag and get to a safe place.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Education & Livelihood

What place in your region are you most excited to visit during your staycation?
Ally Ford 4/30/2022 7:23 PM
I am most excited to visit the Gorge in Big Sur. I have been a few times before and I always enjoy all the nature I am surrounded by. It helps remind me of how beautiful our world is and it helps motivate me to do something about climate change.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health & Equity

Do you have any tips for others on finding locations that accept products for safe disposal?
Ally Ford 4/30/2022 7:20 PM
If an individual cannot find a location to dispose of your unused medicines or chemicals, they can be thrown away at home using the correct precautions. First, check to see if your medication is on the FDA flush list. If it is, then you can dispose of them by flushing them down the toilet. However, if your medicine is not flushable, then you should mix your medication with another substance that is unappealing to children or animals such as coffee grounds or cat litter, and place it in a zip loc bag. Next, you should scribble out any personal information on the medicine bottle and recycle that separately.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Climate & Ecosystems

Why is it important to take care of pollinators? Do you have a favorite pollinator?
Ally Ford 4/30/2022 7:12 PM
It is extremely important to take care of our pollinators as they help flowers and various types of fruits and vegetables reproduce and thrive. They are definitely an important species in our circle of life. My two favorite pollinators are the bumble bee and the butterfly.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Basic Needs & Security

What is one way you will reduce your water use? What is a practice you already have that helps you reduce your water use?
Ally Ford 4/30/2022 7:01 PM
One way I have reduced my water use is by timing my showers. I put on 4 songs and tell myself I have to be done showering by the time the songs are over. This has helped reduce my water use greatly. Another way I have and will continue to reduce my water use is by going to a self car wash. Since I technically have to pay for the amount of time I use the hose, it helps me be more conscious about my water use.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Climate & Ecosystems

What plastic or single-use items do you regularly use? What did you substitute or could be substituted?
Ally Ford 4/25/2022 5:18 PM
I regularly use 1 gallon water jugs and Starbucks plastic cups, but today I chose to substitute them for reusable cups! (:

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Basic Needs & Security

How did you incorporate using an entire vegetable (skins, peels, tops, and stalks) during one of your meal preps? What's something new you're going to try that is a zero-waste meal practice?
Ally Ford 4/25/2022 5:14 PM
In order to use everything I purchased at the store, I made it easier on myself and bought chicken and rice, which had come with nothing I needed to waste. I ate every last bit of what I made!

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- Corina Lieu 4/26/2022 9:48 AM
  I’ve also heard that you can make veggie stock by making a soup with all the scraps from the vegetables. I’ve never tried this but getting things I know I wont waste also helps. I’m glad you found a dish that is less wasteful :)
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Education & Livelihood

What was it like to actively listen to someone? How did both people and the conversation benefit from active listening?
Ally Ford 4/25/2022 5:11 PM
It was very engaging to actively listen to someone. I always try my best to actively listen all the time when I converse with someone else, but without practice, actively listening can be a bit tough, and take up lots of time. Furthermore, during my conversations, I was able to understand them on a different level.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Education & Livelihood

What was the most fun or joyful way you have seen others share their positive sustainability actions and habits?
Ally Ford 4/25/2022 5:06 PM
The most joyful way I had seen one of my friends share their positive sustainability actions was through making a video on how to create your own reusable compost! She created a video on social media that I absolutely loved watching!

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