Waqas Ashraf
"My mission is to immerse myself fully in the EcoChallenge, embracing every opportunity to learn and grow in the realms of conservation and beyond. Each day, I commit to pushing beyond my comfort zone, both as a team captain and a member of society, striving to make a meaningful impact on the only home we all have."
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 200 THIS WEEK
- 1,131 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0energy auditconducted
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UP TO1,200pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO149plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1.0waste auditconducted
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UP TO154pieces of litterpicked up
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UP TO1.0water footprintcalculated
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UP TO2.0community eventshosted or attended
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UP TO30advocacy actionscompleted
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UP TO2.0treesplanted
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UP TO815minutesspent learning
Waqas's actions
Land + Forests
Regenerative Agriculture and Me
Regenerative agriculture focuses on farming and ranching in a way that supports life and restores the soil. I will spend 60 minutes learning about regenerative agriculture and find out if any nearby farms practice regenerative agriculture.
Land + Forests
Personal Waste Audit
The waste we create daily can go unnoticed. I will track the waste I create in a day and post a photo log on the feed to see how much I create and where I can make different choices to reduce my waste going forward.
Freshwater + Oceans
Smart Seafood Choices
We need to support healthy seafood populations. I will spend 60 minutes learning about sustainable seafood choices, commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean, and share what I learned on the feed.
Land + Forests
Borrow Before I Buy
Why buy something I will only use once or a few times if someone nearby has it for me to borrow, and why not share something I have that someone may only need a few times a year? To reduce my consumption and waste, I will create or support the sharing economy with friends, family, colleagues or neighbors.
Action Track: Community
Share My "Why"
I will record a video to share why I am taking action this Earth Month, a sustainable swap I've made, and/or a local conservation effort in my area.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Endangered Species
Wildlife and biodiversity play an important role on our planet and are being threatened each year. I will spend 30 minutes each day learning about the current status of local or global wildlife and how I can align my actions to support their livelihood.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Seek Alternative Gifts and Souvenirs
When traveling, I will seek souvenirs that support local communities and do not cause harm to the environment or wildlife.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Beauty and Personal Products
Beauty and personal products can create a lot of waste. I will spend 30 minutes learning about the beauty and body products I use to see if they are refillable or recyclable. If not, I will reach out to the manufacturer to advocate for those options.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Invest in Nature
A healthy world needs both our daily actions and support from larger systems. I will spend 60 minutes learning about how I can use my investments and savings to advance environmental sustainability.
Climate + Air
Stay on the Ground
Carbon emissions from air travel is harmful to planetary and human health. Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).
Climate + Air
Online Energy Audit
Energy use and waste is often invisible. I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.
Freshwater + Oceans
Dishwasher Efficiency
Hand washing dishes can use more energy and hot water than a dishwasher. To save water, I will use a dishwasher and scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading them into the dishwasher.
Freshwater + Oceans
Use a Reusable Water Bottle
Itr's estimated over a billion water bottles are thrown away each year. Even if they were recycled, that still uses energy and resources from the earth. I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 3 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.
Freshwater + Oceans
Reduce Pollutants in Cleaning
Understanding cleaning product ingredients and their effect on water and biodiversity is helpful to our consumer choices. I will spend 30 minutes learning about how cleaning products affect our water and try making my own cleaning products to reduce pollutants.
Freshwater + Oceans
Cooking Oil Disposal
Pouring cooking oil down the drain can cause damage to waterways and ecosystems. I will learn how to properly dispose of cooking oil to help support healthy ecosystems.
Freshwater + Oceans
Go Plastic-Free
Millions of tons of plastic is produced each year worldwide. Each day, I will conduct a plastics audit of what I buy and use throughout the challenge (kitchen, bathroom, personal care products, etc.), to see how single-use plastic shows up in my life. I will find plastic-free alternatives to these products and advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, product manufacturers, at work, or on campus.
Freshwater + Oceans
Understand My Water Footprint
Each of us has a water footprint, directly linked to our daily activities as well as the water required in the production of things we use each day. Understanding our water use is important for a healthy planet. I will calculate my water footprint and look for a few ways I can reduce consumption or waste, then share what I learned on the feed.
Action Track: Community
Raise Awareness for the Conservation of Freshwater and Oceans
I will spend 60 minutes learning more about the importance of freshwater + ocean conservation, and how I can reduce my water use. I will share what I learn with people in person, on social media, and on the feed.
Action Track: Community
Keep My Community Clean
At times it may not feel like it's up to us to keep our community clean and healthy, but we all have a role to play. Each day I am outside, I will pick up any litter I see.
Action Track: Community
Plant Trees
Trees capture carbon and produce oxygen that is essential to life on earth. I will support this important piece of nature by organizing or joining a community group to plant 5 native trees in my community, public parks, office location, campus or backyard.
Action Track: Community
Join a Cleanup Effort
I will organize or participate in a trash pickup at a local river, beach, or natural body of water.
Action Track: Community
Sustainability Lunch and Learn
Learning in a social setting can inspire connection and change. I will work with a friend or colleague to plan and host a lunch and learn at work, school, in my neighborhood or other location to learn more about an environmental topic important to me. After the lunch and learn, I will share more about it on the feed.
Action Track: Community
JOIN OR CREATE A GREEN TEAM AT EMERSON
I will continue to contribute to Emerson's environmental sustainability goals beyond April by learning more about the Global Green Teams Network, joining a team near me, or maybe even creating a new team.
Action Track: Community
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE NEWS ON SUSTAINABILITY AT EMERSON
I will sign up to the Sustainability Aficionados distribution list to receive global news on sustainability at Emerson, including world news and Greening OF, BY, and WITH news.
Action Track: Community
TAKE PICTURES AND SHARE ON LINKEDIN
I will take at least one photograph that is connected with this year's theme of Nature Conservation & Biodiversity (for example an urban park, bee hives, birds and other animals...) and I will post it on LinkedIn with the hashtags #EarthMonthEcochallenge #EarthMonthAtEmerson.
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?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Borrow Before I BuyHow did you participate in the sharing economy? (Consider posting a photo!) What are the benefits of a sharing economy? How could a sharing economy change the dynamics you have with friends, family and/or neighbors?
Waqas Ashraf 4/30/2024 7:11 AMI started with books as I have a habit of reading a lot. I joined the group online here inDubai where members are eager to share the books. I just got a book which I was thinking to buy otherwise. please see pic. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Personal Waste AuditWhat are the results of your waste audit and what did you learn? How can you reduce your waste going forward?
Waqas Ashraf 4/30/2024 7:09 AMI have done personal waste audit and understood that we as humans are generating a considerable amount of waste daily. For me it was around 2 KGs per day. It can be reduced by choosing responsible and adopting new behaviours. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Regenerative Agriculture and MeWhat did you learn about the practice and benefits of regenerative agriculture? How can you support healthy farming practices for people and the planet?
Waqas Ashraf 4/30/2024 7:08 AMI've learned that regenerative agriculture offers several benefits:- Improved soil health: Practices like cover cropping and crop rotation help build soil organic matter, increase microbial activity, and improve soil structure, leading to better water retention, nutrient cycling, and resilience to erosion and drought.
- Increased biodiversity: Regenerative practices support diverse plant and animal life, creating habitats for beneficial insects, pollinators, and wildlife, which contribute to ecosystem balance and resilience.
- Carbon sequestration: By enhancing soil organic matter and reducing tillage, regenerative agriculture can sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and mitigate climate change, making it an important strategy for climate resilience and carbon mitigation.
- Water conservation: Improving soil health and structure helps enhance water infiltration and retention, reducing the need for irrigation and improving water quality by minimizing runoff and soil erosion.
To support healthy farming practices for people and the planet,
Choose sustainably produced foods
Support local farmers
Advocate for policy change -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Understand My Water FootprintWhat did you learn about your water footprint and what are you going to do to reduce and be aware of the water you use?
Waqas Ashraf 4/30/2024 7:05 AMIt was an eye opening for me to understand how much water I was using and how easy it is to reduce the water usage by changing the behaviors like shower time, shaving time, etc. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Smart Seafood ChoicesMany 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?
Waqas Ashraf 4/30/2024 6:45 AMIn the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) region, fish is a significant part of the diet, given the proximity to the Arabian Gulf. However, it's essential to be mindful of potential contaminants in locally caught fish due to industrial activities, shipping, and other factors.
To ensure your diet choices align with local guidelines:
- Check local advisories: Consult advisories issued by health or environmental agencies in GCC countries regarding fish consumption. These advisories may provide guidance on the types and amounts of fish that are safe to eat, considering factors like mercury levels and other contaminants.
- Choose low-contaminant fish: Opt for fish species that are less likely to contain high levels of contaminants, such as smaller fish like sardines, mackerel, and shrimp, which tend to accumulate fewer toxins compared to larger predatory fish.
- Moderation is key: Even with low-contaminant fish, moderation is important. Limit consumption of fish high in mercury, such as shark, swordfish, and king mackerel, and vary your choices to reduce exposure to any potential contaminants.
- Consider alternative protein sources: Explore plant-based protein sources as alternatives to fish, such as legumes, nuts, and tofu, to diversify your diet and reduce reliance on fish as the primary protein source.
- Support sustainable fisheries: Choose fish from sustainable and well-managed fisheries whenever possible, as they are less likely to contain harmful contaminants and contribute to environmental degradation.
I am not eating seafood at all. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Reduce Pollutants in CleaningWhat did you learn about ingredients in our cleaning products and how they impact water and biodiversity? Did you try making your own cleaning products? If so, how did it go?
Waqas Ashraf 4/30/2024 6:42 AMI've learned that many ingredients in conventional cleaning products, such as phosphates, surfactants, and synthetic fragrances, can have negative impacts on water quality and biodiversity. These chemicals can contribute to water pollution, disrupt aquatic ecosystems, and harm aquatic life. I was not able to make my own cleaning products. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Invest in NatureWhat did you learn about how investing can support the environment and create a more sustainable world?
Waqas Ashraf 4/30/2024 6:41 AMInvesting in nature: preserves biodiversity, restores habitats, mitigates climate change, promotes sustainable agriculture, and builds green infrastructure for a more sustainable world.-
Polavarapu Umasri 4/30/2024 6:44 AMNice Information!
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REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Beauty and Personal ProductsWhat new insights did you gain about the skincare products you use? Did you reach out to advocate for refillable or recyclable packaging?
Waqas Ashraf 4/30/2024 6:39 AMI've gained new insights into the environmental impact of skincare products, particularly regarding their packaging. I've learned about the prevalence of single-use plastic packaging in the skincare industry and the negative consequences this can have on the environment, such as pollution and habitat destruction.
As a result, I've become more conscious of the packaging choices made by skincare brands and have started to seek out products with refillable or recyclable packaging options. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONClimate + Air Online Energy AuditWhere did you do an energy audit (work, home, school, other) and what did you learn?
Waqas Ashraf 4/30/2024 6:38 AMI have done it from my home!
A lot of saving opportunities like HVAC, Lighting, use of appliances etc. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Seek Alternative Gifts and SouvenirsHow do your consumption choices affect the health of wildlife and other communities?
Waqas Ashraf 4/30/2024 6:37 AMOur consumption choices have a significant impact on the health of wildlife and other communities in several ways:- Resource depletion: The demand for products such as timber, palm oil, and seafood can lead to deforestation, habitat destruction, and overfishing, threatening the survival of wildlife species and disrupting ecosystems.
- Pollution: The production and disposal of consumer goods often result in pollution of air, water, and soil, which can harm wildlife, contaminate ecosystems, and adversely affect human health in surrounding communities.
- Climate change: The consumption of fossil fuels, such as through transportation and energy production, contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, leading to global warming and climate change. This can disrupt habitats, alter migration patterns, and exacerbate the vulnerability of wildlife populations and communities to extreme weather events.
- Waste generation: Excessive consumption leads to the generation of waste, including plastic pollution, which poses a threat to wildlife through ingestion, entanglement, and habitat degradation. Improper disposal of waste can also harm communities, particularly those living in proximity to landfills or polluted waterways.
By making more sustainable consumption choices, such as reducing waste, opting for eco-friendly products, supporting sustainable and ethical brands, and reducing meat consumption, individuals can help mitigate these negative impacts and contribute to the health and well-being of wildlife and other communities.