Sowmiya Sekar
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 632 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0Carbon FootprintCalculated
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UP TO3,600pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO23poundswaste composted
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UP TO46pieces of litterpicked up
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UP TO26advocacy actionscompleted
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UP TO2.0community eventshosted or attended
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UP TO2.0public officials or leaderscontacted
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UP TO1.0hourvolunteered
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UP TO2.0treesplanted
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UP TO20minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO40minutesspent learning
Sowmiya's actions
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 20 native trees in my community, public parks, office location, campus or backyard.
Action Track: Community
Volunteer in my Community
I will volunteer 1 hours in my community.
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.
Land + Forests
Explore My Area
When we explore natural spaces around us, our connections with them change. I will spend 30 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
Carry My Trash
I will carry all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash with me this month, to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill. I will post on the feed my reflections, conversations, and actions I will take moving forward.
Land + Forests
Compost Food Waste
Food in the landfill is one of the main sources of greenhouse gasses. I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill per day by composting my food.
Land + Forests
Advocate for Forest Protection
Using my voice can help create a more sustainable and just world. I will contact 2 local, regional, or national decision makers to advocate for public policy that protects forests and improves their ability to sequester carbon and nourish biodiversity.
Land + Forests
Forest-Friendly Foods
I will look for sustainable palm oil products with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSP) label. I will replace or remove the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products in my current diet that are known to contribute to deforestation and opt for ones that help sustain healthy communities and forests.
Land + Forests
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.
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.
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.
Climate + Air
Calculate My Carbon Impact
Carbon emissions can show up in many surprising ways in our life. I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how lifestyle changes could reduce the carbon footprint and impacts on the environment.
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.
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.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Plastic in Clothing and Water
Synthetic clothing can contain plastic and shed harmful microplastics into our water. I will use a microplastics catcher in my laundry, or install a microplastics filter for my washing machine.
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
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
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.
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
Join a Cleanup Effort
I will organize or participate in a trash pickup at a local river, beach, or natural body of water.
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
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.
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 QUESTIONAction Track: Community ATTEND THE ECOCHALLENGE CONSERVATION WEBINARWhat did you learn in the webinar? Did anything surprise you?
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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?
Sowmiya Sekar 4/23/2024 5:11 AMIt gives more freedom and flexibility for individuals (or groups of individuals) to start a new business or offer services, provided that there is a platform set up and there are assets that can be used for it. Another advantage to this type of economy is that it is sustainability-based. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Explore My AreaWhere did you go for your walk or hike in nature? What were the benefits of doing so?
Sowmiya Sekar 4/23/2024 5:10 AM5 minutes walking in nature improves mood, self-esteem, and relaxation. Frequent exposure to nature reduces anxiety and depression, while promoting a sense of wellbeing and fulfillment. Physcial activity in a green space can reduce stress and lowers cortisol levels by 15% -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Advocate for Forest ProtectionHigher standards of living are very often dependent on moving our environmental costs elsewhere. What are some specific ways in which the environmental impacts of your own lifestyle might be shifted elsewhere?
Sowmiya Sekar 4/23/2024 5:10 AMThe shift from building more power plants to increasing energy efficiency can benefit utility customers and shareholders as well as the environment. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Zero Waste DayWhat was hard about having a Zero Waste Day? What did you learn about yourself and your habits?
Sowmiya Sekar 4/23/2024 5:09 AMHaving a Zero Waste Day can be both enlightening and challenging. Here are some common difficulties people encounter and what they learn from the experience:- **Challenges of Zero Waste Days:
- Mindful Consumption: It’s tough to break habits of convenience and mindless consumption. Resisting single-use plastics, disposable items, and excessive packaging requires conscious effort.
- Limited Options: Finding zero-waste alternatives can be tricky, especially when shopping or eating out. Not all stores or restaurants prioritize sustainability.
- Social Situations: Zero waste can clash with social norms. For example, refusing a plastic straw at a restaurant might draw curious glances.
- Unexpected Waste: Despite our best efforts, some waste may still accumulate. Unexpected situations (like receiving a gift with excessive packaging) can be frustrating.
- **Challenges of Zero Waste Days:
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REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Low Water GardeningWhat are the most prominent water concerns in your area? Examples include drought, flooding, pollution, access, security, and privatization.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Join a Cleanup EffortHow does working with others to clean up your community make you feel? What results did you see? Please consider posting a photo of your cleanup!
Sowmiya Sekar 4/23/2024 5:09 AMThis activity had given me an opportunity to become a more productive individual, concerning on how to care and how to be responsible in our community -
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?
Sowmiya Sekar 4/23/2024 5:09 AMOwn Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products? · Bicarbonate of Soda · White Vinegar · Citric Acid · -
REFLECTION QUESTIONClimate + Air Stay on the GroundWhat was your process like for restructuring your trip? How can you avoid more air travel in the future?
Sowmiya Sekar 4/23/2024 5:08 AMAvoid flying for nearby destinations. Opt for trains, buses, or even a good old-fashioned road trip. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONClimate + Air 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?
Sowmiya Sekar 4/23/2024 5:08 AMA lunch-and-learn session is a fantastic way to introduce new company initiatives or encourage employee growth in an informal setting.