Ioana Bontas-Pop

Access to public transportation enables more opportunity and a better quality of life. I will make 1 phone calls and/or send 1 emails per day to public officials to advocate for a more comprehensive public transportation system in my region.

I will replace manual thermostats with smart ones.

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will plant pollinator-friendly plants in my area to support local pollinators.

I will find out what food programs are in my area and donate food and/or other items that they request.

Access to affordable, nutritious food is a food justice issue. I will advocate for equitable food options at work, campus, or in the spaces I frequent by contacting community leaders and/or doing other advocacy actions.

I will call my elected officials to ask about what they are doing regarding water issues in my region.

I will volunteer 10 hours in my community.

I will make 1 phone calls and/or send 1 emails to public officials to advocate for water habitat protection and clean up in my region.

Each day, I will spend time developing a readiness plan for my household in the event of an emergency.

For an upcoming vacation, I will spend 60 minutes planning out a staycation in my region. For reference, one several hour flight releases the equivalent of nearly 14% of the annual emissions from a car.

I will express my love and gratitude for our planet by writing a love letter, poem, song or taking a picture. I will share this in the Ecochallenge feed or on my social media.

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.

I will have a conversation with one or more nonprofit organizations I want to be involved with.

Studies show a grass lawn is water intensive and on average it require about 30 percent of a household’s water consumption. I will do one or more of the following actions in my yard or community to conserve water and improve habitat: plant indigenous plants, landscape with water-efficient plants, add mulching, replace a lawn, and/or use eco-friendly fertilizers.

On average, a tree absorbs 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of carbon dioxide yearly during the first 20 years. To do my part, I will plant 5 trees in my community, public parks, or backyard.

Through my Earth Month Ecochallenge feed, I will share with others an environmentally friendly habit I have cultivated.

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

I will contact my energy company to find out how to sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option.

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

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally). As an example, a plane from New York to Los Angeles (~2,450 miles) generates about 65 tons of carbon dioxide.

I will calculate my water footprint and look for a few ways I can reduce consumption or waste.

I will become a savvy produce shopper when buying organic and non-organic items.

Each day, I will track my purchases to identify my spending habits. This will allow me to see what purchases can be reduced.

I will mend clothing for myself, family or friends.

Each day, I will spend 20 minutes exploring a new area around my neighborhood (e.g., park, water body, nearby trail, community garden, green space, etc.).