Veronica Chainey

While global and national actions get a lot of attention, it’s often at the local community level where individuals can have the greatest input and where change is most tangible. But every community is unique and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. I will spend 20 minutes finding out how my neighborhood, town or city is helping the environment and building local resilience.

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

I will set up or join a recycling program at my workplace or school.

I will avoid buying and using 1 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.

I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin practicing it in my own life.

I will explore the interactive map in the links below to find a supermarket that does not use HFC refrigerants near my home.

I will spend 30 minutes learning about the climate impact of refrigerants and what climate-friendly refrigerants are by using the links below.

I will practice the "5 Rs" — refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle — to reduce my waste more than I can with just recycling alone.

I will spend 30 minutes learning about carbon offsets, and why they are a necessary solution in combating a climate crisis.

Using Drawdown's Job Function Action Guide, I will learn about climate actions I can take at work.

I will use my spending power to reward companies leading in creating or purchasing green energy and incentivize others to invest more in green energy.

I will make a donation to a nonprofit that installs microgeneration in low income countries.

I will write or call 2 elected officials telling them not to support fossil fuel subsidies and instead support wind energy generation.

Through social media (LinkedIn or Instagram), I will share what I've learned about Electricity Generation and tag Ecochallenge.org.

I will contact the fossil fuel companies that supply energy in my community and ask how they manage and reduce methane leakage.