Brandon Whitley

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

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

I will carry all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash with me each day to raise my awareness of how much waste I produce.

I spend 5 minutes analyzing my recent utility bills, which might include electricity, gas, or water to see what my current usage is and determine if I can reduce my energy and water use.

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

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 spend 600 minutes each day practicing mindfulness.

I will spend 240 minutes learning about water justice in my region.

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

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

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.

For an upcoming vacation, I will spend 240 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.

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 make a few homemade cleaning products.

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

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

Each day, I will spend 60 minutes exploring a new area around my neighborhood (e.g., park, water body, nearby trail, community garden, green space, etc.).

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.

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

I will organize a book club to read about climate change and sustainability.

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 spend 180 learning about the past and present indigenous communities in my regions and what I can do to be supportive.

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

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 10 trees in my community, public parks, or backyard.