

Emma Johnson
"Taking daily actions to reduce my annual carbon footprint "
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 842 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO120minutesspent learning
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UP TO105conversationswith people
Emma's actions
Fresh Water
Eco-friendly Gardening
I will plant native species, landscape with water-efficient plants, and use eco-friendly fertilizers.
Oceans
Smart Seafood Choices
I will visit seafoodwatch.org or download the app and commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean.
Fresh Water
Dishwasher Efficiency
I will scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher and only run the dishwasher when it’s full.
Forests
Forest-Friendly Foods
I will replace or remove the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products in my current diet that are known to contribute to deforestation.
Food
Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates
I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.
Climate
Calculate Personal Carbon Footprint
Complete your personal carbon footprint calculator. Go to www.wsppact.com and answer the questions for each section. The process takes about 10 minutes. Details about your utility bills and travel will be required. Please be as accurate as you can, but it’s not required to search for receipts.
Wildlife
Support Pollinators
At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators, including monarch butterflies, to produce fruit. I will spend 30 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.
Wildlife
Research a Wild Animal
I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about a wild animal I find interesting, including their life cycle, habitat, ecosystem functions, and interactions with humans (if any!).
People
Connect While Social Distancing
I will connect with at least 2 person/people a day through phone call or video chat to support mine and other’s mental and emotional health during this challenging time.
Food
Vedge Pledge and Webinar
I challenge you to go veg for a week. Sign up and I will provide you with daily updates during the week of the challenge (April 20th to 25th - send me an email that you want to join at [email protected]) We will have a webinar on Wednesday, April 22nd (Earth Day) at 9am Pacific/noon Eastern about the environmental impacts of food. Join the webinar and/or take the pledge :)
Fresh Water
Water-Friendly Beauty Products
Avoid beauty products with micro beads or harsh chemicals that will feed into the ground and your water supply.
Action Track: Earth Day Together!
Earth Day Action: Share Eco Tips
Through social media or on the Earth Day Ecochallenge feed, I will share my favorite environmentally friendly habit with my friends, even if it’s not an Earth Day action.
Wildlife
Seek Alternative Gifts and Souvenirs
Bringing home unique souvenirs from trips you’ve enjoyed is meaningful, and giving people unique gifts from other places is fun. Seek souvenirs and gifts that support local communities and do not cause harm to the environment or wildlife.
Participant Feed
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REFLECTION QUESTIONWildlifeHow do your consumption choices affect the health of wildlife and other communities?
Emma Johnson 4/30/2020 1:45 PMEnvironmental change is, unfortunately, often going to follow the money. The more we make our purchases based on our morals and not just what is the cheapest/easiest option, the more we can influence the options available to us. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWildlifeWhat interesting facts did you learn about the animal you researched? What are some of your favorite things about this animal?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Earth Day Together!What environmentally friendly habit have you most recently implemented? How do you ensure that you are successful in creating or changing a habit?
Emma Johnson 4/23/2020 2:03 PMWe recently added more native plants to our rain garden. Having built the entire thing by ourselves I feel more vested in maintaining it and making sure the plants thrive. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodHow does food impact your carbon footprint?
Emma Johnson 4/23/2020 1:29 PMI knew that I should be eating less meat, but seeing actual numbers attached was motivating. My goal is vegan 3 days a week (to start). -
REFLECTION QUESTIONClimateWhat surprised you about your PACT results?
Emma Johnson 4/22/2020 12:07 PMI was surprised by how much of my carbon footprint was caused by my one vacation! Vehicle usage wasn't a huge surprise, but looking forward to carpooling once the office reopens. -
Emma Johnson 4/20/2020 8:57 AMThe NY Times did a piece on food expiration dates as part of their coronavirus coverage: https://www.nytimes.com/article/expiration-dates-coronavirus.html -
REFLECTION QUESTIONForestsHow difficult or easy was it to change your diet?
Emma Johnson 4/20/2020 8:53 AMI made the switch to coffee labeled as shade grown and/or with a Rainforest Alliance certification. I'm sure that will be easier for me than going part-time vegetarian, but looking forward to the veg pedge to keep me accountable. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodHow does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?
Emma Johnson 4/17/2020 8:39 AMKnowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates - as well as which products have some leeway - allows me to reduce my food waste. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFresh WaterBeyond what does or doesn't come out of the tap at home, how do your choices affect freshwater locally and globally?
Emma Johnson 4/07/2020 9:04 AMSince moving to Portland I have tried to be extra cautious about my contributions to stormwater runoff given the amount of rainfall that we have coupled with our proximity to significant water bodies (e.g. the Columbia River). -
REFLECTION QUESTIONOceansMany states and countries have advisories on eating fish. Find out what is advised for your region. Do you think your diet choices fall within these guidelines? What steps do you need to take to make sure that they do?
Emma Johnson 4/02/2020 1:33 PMTilapia, catfish, and sardines are my go to for seafood, and they are all on the safe list.