Nithya Thangamani
"Earth Day is to educate, diversify, and activate the environmental movement worldwide, year-round."
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 641 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO3,600pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO1.0Carbon FootprintCalculated
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UP TO48pieces of litterpicked up
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UP TO44plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1.0hourvolunteered
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UP TO2.0community eventshosted or attended
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UP TO25advocacy actionscompleted
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UP TO2.0treesplanted
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UP TO20minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO520minutesspent learning
Nithya'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
Choose Eco-Friendly Wood and Paper
Trees provide food and habitat for local wildlife species, shade our streets and homes, and help keep our air and water clean by capturing pollutants. Buying products that help protect forests makes a difference. I will only purchase wood, furniture, and paper products from ecologically certified sources such as Forest Stewardship Council.
Freshwater + Oceans
Learn About Water Justice in My Area
I will spend at least 20 minutes a day using the resources provided to learn about water justice and find out how I can get involved in local initiatives.
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
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
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
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
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
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
Explore My Area
When we explore natural spaces around us, our connections with them change. I will spend 5 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
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.
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?
Nithya Thangamani 4/24/2024 6:03 AMThe sharing economy is a socio-economic system that allows people to share in the creation, production, distribution, trade, and consumption of goods and services. It can be facilitated by nonprofit organizations or commercial entities. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Zero Waste DayWhat was hard about having a Zero Waste Day? What did you learn about yourself and your habits?
Nithya Thangamani 4/24/2024 6:02 AMSome say that living a zero waste lifestyle is challenging and can be stressful. Here are some of the challenges of living a zero waste lifestyle:- Changing habits
- It can be difficult to resist single-use items and adjust to new routines.
- Finding alternatives
- It can take time and effort to find sustainable alternatives to everyday products and services.
- Mental barriers
- There may be a mental barrier created by the fear of being imperfectly zero-waste or being judged when using plastic.
- Diversity of materials
- Today's waste is highly varied, and some materials are difficult to recycle or reuse.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Choose Eco-Friendly Wood and PaperBeyond carbon sequestration, what other benefits do forests offer you personally?
Nithya Thangamani 4/24/2024 6:02 AMForests offer many benefits beyond carbon sequestration, including:- Climate change mitigation
- Forests help prevent floods, regulate rainfall, and slow biodiversity loss.
- Extreme weather
- Forests protect against extreme weather conditions, such as storms and floods.
- Soil stabilization
- Forests minimize erosion and reduce water quality impairment due to sedimentation.
- Water bodies
- Forests protect water bodies and watercourses by trapping sediments and pollutants.
- Air quality
- Forests purify the air by removing harmful pollutants and pumping out oxygen.
- Natural disasters
- Forests help prevent landslides by holding the soil in place and lessening the force of rain.
- Essential resources
- Forests provide many of the resources we use in our daily lives, such as wood for furniture and books.
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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?
Nithya Thangamani 4/24/2024 6:01 AMWhether you're exploring trails in your local woods, scaling a mountain peak, or strolling along a beach, the physical activity of trekking can help to boost endorphins and reduce cortisol levels, leading to improved mental and physical well-being. -
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!
Nithya Thangamani 4/24/2024 6:01 AMWorking with others to clean up your community can make you feel a sense of pride, unity, and responsibility. It can also create a greater sense of friendship among community members. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Low Water GardeningWhat are the most prominent water concerns in your area? Examples include drought, flooding, pollution, access, security, and privatization.
Nithya Thangamani 4/24/2024 6:01 AMSome water concerns in India include:- Over-extraction of groundwater: India relies heavily on groundwater, which is being depleted at an alarming rate due to over-extraction for irrigation, industrial, and domestic use.
- Water pollution: Water pollution comes from many sources including pesticides and fertilizers that wash away from farms, untreated human wastewater, and industrial waste.
- Inadequate distribution
- Lack of proper water management
- Climate change: Changing rainfall patterns, including droughts, can have a big impact on water availability. Flooding can worsen water quality. Stronger storms can damage infrastructure.
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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?
Nithya Thangamani 4/24/2024 6:00 AMI discovered the beauty of DIY cleaning solutions made from natural ingredients like vinegar and baking soda. -
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?
Nithya Thangamani 4/24/2024 6:00 AMHere are some steps you can take to restructure a trip:- Assess
- Develop a plan
- Identify goals
- Create a detailed plan
- Include specific actions
- Set timelines
- Create a budget
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REFLECTION QUESTIONClimate + Air Calculate My Carbon ImpactWhere in your life do you emit the most carbon? What change are you willing to make in your daily life to reduce this output?
Nithya Thangamani 4/24/2024 5:59 AMTransportation, energy use, and food choices are some activities that have a high impact on your carbon footprint. Driving cars is a major contributor to carbon emissions.