Despite the presence of pollution, the walk offered numerous benefits. It allowed me to connect with nature, even in an urban environment, providing moments of tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle. Additionally, it served as a reminder of the importance of advocating for cleaner air and sustainable transportation options to improve the health and well-being of both people and the planet.
Emaan Chaudhry
""As a university student, my mission is simple: to take small daily actions that make a big difference for our planet. Together, we can create a greener, healthier future for all.""
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 605 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO6.5poundsfood waste prevented
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UP TO14pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO71plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1.0waste auditconducted
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UP TO1.0water footprintcalculated
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UP TO323gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO1.0community eventhosted or attended
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UP TO9.0advocacy actionscompleted
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UP TO60minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO2.0treesplanted
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UP TO162minutesspent learning
Emaan's actions
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 10 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.
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 5 minutes learning about regenerative agriculture and find out if any nearby farms practice regenerative agriculture.
Land + Forests
Explore My Area
When we explore natural spaces around us, our connections with them change. I will spend 20 minutes exploring a new area around my neighborhood, office, or campus (e.g., park, water body, nearby trail, community garden, green space, etc.).
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.
Land + Forests
Zero Waste Day
The impacts of our waste are far reaching. I will create zero waste for an entire day and share my reflections and learnings on the feed.
Freshwater + Oceans
Smart Seafood Choices
We need to support healthy seafood populations. I will spend 15 minutes learning about sustainable seafood choices, commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean, and share what I learned on the feed.
Freshwater + Oceans
Low Water Gardening
Grass lawns are water-intensive and on average require about 30 percent of a household’s water consumption. Native plants are water-efficient and help maintain the balance and diversity of local ecosystems. I will plant native species with water-efficient plants to conserve water and improve the habitat, then post a photo on the feed to share.
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
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 1 native trees in my community, public parks, office location, campus or backyard.
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
Save the Bees
Bees are vital to ecosystems. To help save the bees, I will learn which local flowers provide nectar and plant them in my backyard or in a pot on my balcony.
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
Reduce Pollutants in Cleaning
Understanding cleaning product ingredients and their effect on water and biodiversity is helpful to our consumer choices. I will spend 5 minutes learning about how cleaning products affect our water and try making my own cleaning products to reduce pollutants.
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
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 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.
Freshwater + Oceans
Raise Awareness for the Conservation of Freshwater and Oceans
I will spend 10 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.
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.
Climate + Air
Declutter My Home Without the Landfill
Each day, I will learn about responsible ways to dispose of items and de-clutter, clean, donate, repurpose or recycle unneeded items in my home to make sure that what I get rid of doesn't go into the landfill.
Climate + Air
Weekly Meal Planning
One third of all food produced worldwide is wasted, and so is the energy it takes to produce and transport that food. I will reduce food waste and save money by planning a weekly menu, only buying the ingredients I need and eating what I planned each day.
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.
Action Track: Community
ATTEND THE ECOCHALLENGE CONSERVATION WEBINAR
On Wed 24th April, I will attend the Earth Month Ecochallenge Webinar on Conservation to learn about what individuals, companies and other organizations can do to promote biodiversity and nature protection.
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 Explore My AreaWhere did you go for your walk or hike in nature? What were the benefits of doing so?
Emaan Chaudhry 4/30/2024 11:09 AMI went for a walk in my neighborhood, exploring the nearby streets and green spaces. While I found some trees providing a semblance of nature, I also noticed the prevalence of car pollution, which underscored the importance of seeking cleaner modes of transportation like walking and cycling.
Despite the presence of pollution, the walk offered numerous benefits. It allowed me to connect with nature, even in an urban environment, providing moments of tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle. Additionally, it served as a reminder of the importance of advocating for cleaner air and sustainable transportation options to improve the health and well-being of both people and the planet. -
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?
Emaan Chaudhry 4/30/2024 11:07 AMAfter conducting a waste audit, I discovered that a significant portion of my waste comes from single-use plastics, packaging, and food waste. This highlighted the need for me to focus on reducing these sources of waste going forward.
To reduce my waste, I plan to:
1. Minimize single-use plastics: I'll opt for reusable alternatives such as water bottles, coffee cups, and shopping bags.
2. Choose package-free options: I'll shop in bulk and at zero-waste stores to reduce packaging waste.
3. Reduce food waste: I'll plan meals more efficiently, compost food scraps, and donate excess food to minimize waste.
4. Recycle and compost: I'll ensure that items that can be recycled or composted are disposed of properly to divert them from landfills.
By implementing these changes, I aim to significantly reduce my waste output and contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Zero Waste DayWhat was hard about having a Zero Waste Day? What did you learn about yourself and your habits?
Emaan Chaudhry 4/30/2024 11:06 AMHaving a Zero Waste Day presented some challenges, particularly in breaking ingrained habits where I realized how much single-use packaging and disposable items have become integrated into my daily routines. It was difficult to resist the convenience of packaged goods and to find alternatives that produced minimal waste.
However, this experience also taught me a lot about myself and my habits. I discovered that with a bit of mindfulness and planning, I could significantly reduce my waste output. It showed me the importance of being proactive in seeking out sustainable alternatives and being conscious of the environmental impact of my choices. I tried to always sort my waste in recyclable bins to minimize impact -
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?
Emaan Chaudhry 4/30/2024 11:03 AMRegenerative agriculture offers holistic benefits for both people and the planet by prioritizing soil health, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. To support healthy farming practices, I'll prioritize locally grown produce from regenerative farms, advocate for sustainable farming policies, and educate others about its benefits. Together, we can create a more resilient food system and environment for future generations. -
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?
Emaan Chaudhry 4/30/2024 11:00 AMThrough research and exploration, I gained new insights into the skincare products I use, particularly those found on Sephora. I discovered the importance of understanding ingredient lists and choosing products with minimal packaging to reduce waste. Additionally, I learned about the environmental impact of certain ingredients and the benefits of opting for cruelty-free and sustainably sourced options. These insights have influenced my purchasing decisions, guiding me towards more eco-friendly and ethical skincare choices. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Community Sustainability Lunch and LearnWho did you engage in your lunch and learn? What resources did you use? How did it go and what did you learn?
Emaan Chaudhry 4/30/2024 10:59 AMDuring my lunch and learn, I encouraged my friends to consider meal prep as a sustainable alternative. Utilizing online resources like articles and videos, we discussed the benefits of meal prep, including reducing food waste and minimizing single-use packaging. The discussion was enlightening, and we all left with a renewed commitment to incorporate meal prep into our routines for a greener lifestyle. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Community Plant TreesHow is planting trees good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health?
Emaan Chaudhry 4/30/2024 10:57 AMPlanting my own desert rose has been a deeply personal and rewarding experience, especially in a hot and dry country. Seeing its vibrant blooms amidst the urban landscape brings a refreshing pop of color and serves as a reminder of nature's resilience. Mentally, it brings me joy and a sense of accomplishment, while physically, it encourages me to spend more time outdoors, connecting with the earth. Spiritually, nurturing this plant fosters a profound sense of connection to the natural world, grounding me in a busy urban environment and providing moments of tranquility and beauty. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Seek Alternative Gifts and SouvenirsHow do your consumption choices affect the health of wildlife and other communities?
Emaan Chaudhry 4/30/2024 10:55 AMMy consumption choices can significantly impact the health of wildlife and communities, especially when shopping for gifts. Opting for sustainably sourced and eco-friendly products reduces habitat destruction and pollution, safeguarding wildlife habitats and ecosystems. Supporting fair trade and ethical brands ensures that communities involved in production are treated fairly and receive fair wages, promoting social and economic well-being. By making thoughtful gift choices, I can contribute to a healthier environment and support communities worldwide. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Use a Reusable Water BottleWhat did you learn about the amount of plastic we consume and what actions will you take to reduce your use of plastic?
Emaan Chaudhry 4/30/2024 10:54 AMI learned that our plastic consumption is overwhelming. We are surrounded with plastic bottles everywhere, choosing package-free products, exploring plastic alternatives, and educate others about the importance of reducing plastic waste as we end this challenge. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Go Plastic-FreeWhere did plastic show up on your life that surprised you the most? What plastic alternative products did you discover you may switch to?
Emaan Chaudhry 4/30/2024 10:52 AMDisposable cutlery and the sheer volume of food waste surprised me the most in terms of plastic's pervasive presence in my life. Realizing the environmental impact of these everyday items motivated me to make a change. I'm committed to packing my lunch in a sustainable box, reducing both plastic waste and food waste in one simple step.