Earth Month Ecochallenge 2022: Sustainable Development Goals

April 1 - April 30, 2022

Nick Padula

WSP USA Southeast Region

"To learn about the SDGs and make changes to my lifestyle to help make a difference!"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
738 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

15

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

160

minutes

spent learning

Nick's actions

Health & Equity

Practice Mindfulness

SDG #3 Health & Well-Being

I will spend 5 minutes each day practicing mindfulness.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Economy & Communities

Learn About The Economy & Communities SDGs

SDG #7, 9 & 12

I will spend 15 minutes learning about these SDGs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Education & Livelihood

Share Your Eco Habits

SDG #11 Communities

Through my social media channels, in person, or as an Earth Month Ecochallenge feed reflection, I will share with others an environmentally friendly habit I have cultivated.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Basic Needs & Security

Learn About the Basic Needs & Security SDGs

SDG #1, 2 & 6

I will spend 10 minutes learning about these SDGs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Basic Needs & Security

Know Your Produce

SDG #2 Zero Hunger

I will visit ewg.org to learn about and use their Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen produce lists.

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 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Education & Livelihood

Volunteer In My Community

SDG #11 Communities

I will volunteer hour(s) in my community.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Education & Livelihood

Research Impact Investing

SDG #8 Work & Economy

Using the links provided below, I will research impact investing or my current investment portfolio to determine if they align with my values.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Economy & Communities

Choose Clean/Renewable Energy

SDG #7 Energy

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate & Ecosystems

Explore My Area

SDG #14 & 15

Each day, I will spend 15 minutes exploring a new area around my neighborhood (e.g., park, water body, nearby trail, community garden, green space, etc.).

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

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

Health & Equity

Learn About The Health & Equity SDGs

SDG #3, 5, 10 & 16

I will spend 15 minutes learning about these SDGs.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Economy & Communities

Understand Your Climate And Natural Disaster Risks

SDG #9 Industry & Infrastructure

I will spend 15 minutes learning about the climate and natural disaster risks in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health & Equity

Learn About Equitable Food Access

SDG #10 Reduced Inequalities

I will spend 15 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

Get To Know Your Watershed

SDG #6 Water & Sanitation

I will spend 15 minutes learning about my watershed and the particular water issues my region faces.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Basic Needs & Security

Get Involved in the Water Justice Movement

SDG #6 Water & Sanitation

I will spend 15 minutes learning about water justice and find out how I can get involved in local initiatives.

UNCOMPLETED
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 15 minutes learning about a renters bill of rights and affordable housing.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health & Equity

Learn About Participation and Representation

SDG #5 Gender

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the barriers to women and girl's equal participation and representation around the world.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Health & Equity

Support Indigenous & First Nations Communities

SDG #10 Reduced Inequalities

I will spend 15 learning about the past and present indigenous communities in my regions and what I can do to be supportive.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health & Equity

Track My Purchases

SDG #10 Reduced Inequalities

Throughout the day I will track my purchases and then research the companies making these goods.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Climate & Ecosystems

Learn About Invasive Species

SDG #14 & 15

I will spend 15 minutes learning about invasive species and ways to reduce their impacts.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Education & Livelihood

Learn About The Education & Livelihood SDGs

SDG #4, 8, 11 & 17

I will spend 15 minutes learning about these SDGs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Economy & Communities

Find out where your energy comes from

SDG #7 Energy

I will spend 15 minutes learning about where my energy comes from.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate & Ecosystems

Learn About The Climate & Ecosystems SDGs

SDG #13, 14 & 15

I will spend 15 minutes learning about these SDGs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Economy & Communities

Where does the energy in your region come from? Which energy is a renewable source?
Nick Padula 4/25/2022 1:42 PM
Energy in the Southeast primarily comes from gas (I think a combination of blast furnace gas and natural gas?), followed by nuclear (renewable) and coal. Other smaller renewable sources include hydro and biomass.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Economy & Communities

What was it like to create a readiness plan? Did you find other resources you could share?
Nick Padula 4/25/2022 1:32 PM
It was interesting to find a good meeting point that is easily accessible - we decided on a point that is accessible via foot, bike, transit, and car!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Climate & Ecosystems

What is one invasive species in your region and how does it impact your region's ecosystem?
Nick Padula 4/20/2022 10:14 AM
The Argentine Tegus is a lizard native to South America that can grow up to 4 feet long and 10 pounds. Tegus eat eggs of nesting birds and other reptiles, including a number of endangered species. The Georgia DNR has launched a campaign to eradicate a population of Tegus found in southeast Georgia.

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Nick Padula 4/19/2022 8:03 AM
We use CompostNow for our household compost! It's helpful because we're in an apartment, so we don't have any outdoor space for our own compost bin. It really reduces our household waste - in addition to organic waste, you can also compost napkins, coffee filters, egg cartons, and pizza boxes! And, you can opt to have your compost delivered back to you! We currently don't have much of a garden (besides a window box), so we donate the compost to a local garden.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Economy & Communities

What are the climate and disaster risks in your region?
Nick Padula 4/18/2022 5:56 AM
Flooding is the main climate risk in Atlanta, primarily in areas near the Chattahoochee. The Neighborhoods at Risk tool also showed how in Atlanta, the areas with a higher low-income population have higher flood risks, which shows how important topics such as Environmental Justice are.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Basic Needs & Security

What was a linking factor across this group of SDGs?
Nick Padula 4/14/2022 5:40 AM
These SDGs all relate to a lack of resources for many people across the globe, and how this has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Poverty and access to basic necessities like food and water are still issues for many countries. I was particularly interested to learn that over 2.3 billion people live in water-stressed countries!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Climate & Ecosystems

What was a linking factor across this group of SDGs?
Nick Padula 4/13/2022 7:49 AM
These three SDGs were related to the anthropogenic effect on the environment, as opposed to other SDGs that are more related to socioeconomic factors in our society.

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Nick Padula 4/11/2022 5:27 AM
My fiancé and I use a bucket to collect shower water while we wait for it to heat up - it seems like such a waste to just watch the water go down the drain! We use this water to water plants or flush the toilet.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Basic Needs & Security

What watershed do you live in presently? What is something interesting or unique about your watershed?
Nick Padula 4/07/2022 8:08 AM
I live in the Upper Chattahoochee watershed. The interesting thing about my watershed is its downstream effect. The Chattahoochee runs from Georgia to Alabama (making the state line) and then down into Florida to the Gulf of Mexico. There have been a number of lawsuits recently, dubbed the "Water Wars", about the amount of water Georgia uses - as Georgia uses/witholds more water, Alabama and Florida get less water, which has a major effect on the states. One effect that I wouldn't normally think about is the effect on species living at the mouth of the river in the gulf - lower water levels can put endangered species, such as a certain species of mussel, at risk. This all goes to show that there is a lot that goes into making decisions about sharing environmental resources.

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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?
Nick Padula 4/04/2022 6:07 AM
While handwashing some of my dishes, I tend to leave the sink running too long. I need to be cognizant of this, and maybe use the dishwasher for more of my dishes, as that's more water efficient. I'm already pretty good about turning the tap off while brushing my teeth, but I should take more care in the kitchen.

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