Earth Month Ecochallenge 2023: Sustainable Development Goals

April 1 - April 30, 2023

Melanie Lulue

WSP USA Southeast Region

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,030 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

535

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

34

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

2.0

documentaries

watched
UP TO

1.0

donation

made
UP TO

180

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

535

minutes

not spent in front of a screen
UP TO

305

minutes

being mindful

Melanie's actions

Climate & Ecosystems

Calculate Your Carbon Impact

SDG 13

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Education & Livelihood

Work-Life Balance

SDG 8

During the workday, I will schedule time for daily breaks during work days to practice work-life balance.

COMPLETED 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Climate & Ecosystems

Watch a Documentary About Climate Change or Nature

SDG 13, 14, 15

I will watch 1 documentaries about climate change.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate & Ecosystems

WSP - Emerge Program

Spend 15 minutes learning about the Emerge Program at WSP. Emerge is WSP's strategic alliance program that seeks early-stage companies with novel solutions as strategic partners. Partners get access to in-house subject matter experts, an opportunity to pilot their products/technologies with WSP during the evaluation phase and have access to our client base. Emerge propels our partners by accelerating the product/technology adoption. Having recently launched our 4th cohort, Emerge has accelerated a number of companies whose mission aligns with UN SDGs. • Olokun Minerals • ecoSPEARS • PLAEX Building Systems

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health & Equity

Spend Time Outside

SDG 3

I will replace 10 minute(s) per day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside exercising, enjoying the sunrise/sunset, gardening, journaling, or practicing gratitude for nature.

COMPLETED 23
DAILY ACTIONS

Basic Needs & Security

Try a New Vegan or Vegetarian Recipe

I will try a new vegan or vegetarian recipe and share how it turns out on the Ecochallenge feed, or with family and friends.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Basic Needs & Security

Reduce Animal Product Consumption

SDG 2

One kilogram of beef and cheese emits 71kg and 24kg of greenhouse gasses, while 1kg of rice, grains, and legumes emits between 2-4kg. Fruits, vegetables, and nuts emit less than 1kg per 1kg. I will reduce my climate impact by enjoying 1 meatless meals and/or 0 vegan meals each day this week.

COMPLETED 27
DAILY ACTIONS

Health & Equity

Practice Mindfulness

SDG 3

I will spend 10 minutes each day practicing mindfulness.

COMPLETED 28
DAILY ACTIONS

Basic Needs & Security

Watch a Documentary About Food, Water, or Basic Needs

SDG 6

I will watch 1 documentaries about food, water, or basic needs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health & Equity

Donate Food

SDG 3, 10

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Climate & Ecosystems

What did you watch, and what was the most important thing you learned in the documentary(ies) you watched? How does what you learned connect to your understanding of climate change and Earth Month?
Melanie Lulue 4/27/2023 11:17 AM
WSP presented webinars that were about climate change and our carbon foot print. We need to reduce our carbon foot print to help reduce climate change and cool things down. I know we need to go electric (battery) with a lot of things such as EV, but our current grid is not ready and until they can handle the extra load and we have access to charging stations it will be hard to go EV. I understand the importance, but I feel we are trying to carry the cart before the horse on some of these issues. Yes, we need to do something, but better planning needs to happen too.

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- Monika Staszczak 4/27/2023 11:58 AM
  That one was really interesting!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Basic Needs & Security

What did you watch, and what was the most important thing you learned in the documentaries you watched? How does what you learned connect to your understanding of climate change and Earth Month?
Melanie Lulue 4/27/2023 11:13 AM
WSP has done several webinars this month and they've focused on climate change and what we can do to make a difference. We as a society use too much PFAS and it's getting into our ocean and water, so we are ingesting it through drinking and eating, which is causing people to get sick with diseases such as cancer. We really need to learn to live "clean" or future generations will not exist.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Basic Needs & Security

What was the dish you made, and how did it turn out? What did it feel like to try a new recipe? If you can share a picture, please do!
Melanie Lulue 4/27/2023 10:53 AM
I like to get creative in the kitchen and sometimes I make a flop and others I amaze myself. lol The challenge was to make a new vegetarian or vegan recipe. I had planned to do a stir fry with fresh veggies and "seasoning" with orange marmalade and ginger paste. That's a lot to do during the week after a day of sitting at the computer (project accountant) so I decided after looking up online for ideas to make a soup in the crockpot. I used a full jar of the marmalade (18 oz) and almost a full tube of ginger, plus added 2 heaping teaspoons of minced garlic, a little salt, and some white pepper to taste. I used one frozen spinach and then added fresh zucchini, yellow squash, baby carrots, mushrooms, and tofu and orzo as extra protein. It really is delicious and the broth is orange and ginger with a little heat. Since I made a crockpot full I have leftovers for other meals. Yum!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health & Equity

What was it like to practice mindfulness? If this is a practice for you already, what was something new you understood in practicing during Earth Month?
Melanie Lulue 4/24/2023 1:59 PM
After attending a few EcoChallenge webinars I became aware of WSP partners and how they try to make a difference for Mother Earth. I try to be aware of what I use and buy to lessen the impact on the environment and I have made some permanent changes of using less plastic. It is hard to go completely plastic free, but lowering my usage I believe does help. I practice this every day to do my part even though it may be small.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Basic Needs & Security

What was the tastiest meatless or vegan meal you ever had or had recently? Did you make it? Can you share a recipe?
Melanie Lulue 4/24/2023 1:56 PM
I went to a local vegan restaurant and they had pecan crusted eggplant baked and cut in such a way is was like a steak and so delicious. Eggplant is one of my favorite vegetables and I would have never thought of it as a "meat" substitute. I also had mashed potatoes and another veggie with it. I was really surprised at how delicious and full I felt from a complete plant based meal.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Climate & Ecosystems

What is one way you will reduce your carbon footprint? What is a practice you already have that helps you reduce your carbon footprint?
Melanie Lulue 4/20/2023 7:08 AM
The City I live in no longer recycles so I try to buy/use products that have little to no plastic. An example is I used to buy the plastic container of almond milk and now I buy the smaller cartons to reduce my plastic use. I've also switched to laundry detergents sheets so I'm not using large plastic bottles that are mostly water. At home I use a steel tumbler and I travel (take to the office) with it to limit plastic use for drinks. I've also bought metal/reusable straws for when I cruise so I'm not using plastic straws. I can't completely eliminate plastic use, but I'm aware of how much is used and do my best to reduce my usage.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health & Equity

What are the implications for a culture that spends most of its time inside and on screens?
Melanie Lulue 4/19/2023 6:26 AM
People that spend all or most of their time indoors glued to screens are really missing out on free therapy by just stepping outside and breathing in the beauty around them. I love sitting on my screen patio in the backyard where I have trees and more bird species than I can count. I put food out for the squirrels and birds and just love watching them grab a peanut and go off to eat it and then come back for more. It's my peace, therapy, and it keeps me grounded. The picture shows my feeder I add peanuts (shelled/unshelled) and meal worms and water and its a non-stop buffet for the many birds/squirrels. This is a male cardinal and catbird in the picture.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Education & Livelihood

How does practicing a work-life balance create a more sustainable life for you? How might it contribute to sustainability more broadly?
Melanie Lulue 4/19/2023 6:18 AM
Work can be very stressful when you have people coming from every direction of I need this and it's important to take time to sit back and chill for a minute or two when it gets too crazy and overwhelming. It helps put things in perspective. Yes, we have a job to do, but constantly being stressed doesn't help the work or your health.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health & Equity

Why do you donate food? How does it connect to your values?
Melanie Lulue 4/19/2023 6:14 AM
I donate money to the local food bank and it literally helps my neighbors since it goes by the zip code as to where the money will go. I just dropped off requested items (hygiene/non food household items) at the local pantry to help put smiles on people's faces. Cars were lined up ready to get their monthly donations. I feel blessed to be able to do this and know without their help growing up, who knows where I would be today. Remember your neighbors and research local food pantries. By donating to them, you are helping your neighbors and no one will be embarrassed by it because it's anonymous! We don't know what they are facing behind closed doors. Have a wonderful day!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Climate & Ecosystems

What are your thoughts on WSP partnering with smaller companies with the Emerge Program?
Melanie Lulue 4/11/2023 12:41 PM
This is awesome and what the smaller companies are doing to make a difference for the environment is actually mind-blowing. I knew of PFAS, but to see what a company is doing to help clean this and PCBs from the environment is really cool. I was also very impressed with Lacey and what her company is doing to help with making potable water and also preserving needed minerals. The presentation was done extremely well and thank you for providing this for us EcoChallengers!

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