​** Some challenges have been updated for COVID-19. Please consider how you can still play a part in helping the planet while staying safe. Complete all of the challenges while social distancing and staying home as much as possible.
Day 1: Meatless Monday
Don't eat meat or dairy, and eat delicious vegan meals today. We also welcome you to take our bonus challenges: Eat local and organic. Don’t waste food. Learn about how you can benefit your health & planet by doing these things.
Why is this important? ​Our appetite for meat involves over 60 billion land animals (cows, chickens, pigs, sheep, turkeys etc) that emit 15% of the world's greenhouse gasses and use 80% of all agricultural land. Moreover, this industry is also responsible for cruel practices in order to produce meat as “efficiently” as possible. For a glimpse into the lives of farm animals, view this immersive 360 video by iAnimal. If you include all other food-related emissions - farming, deforestation and food waste - what we eat becomes the #1 cause of global warming.

We get it. Going vegan is not for everyone. You can still make a big difference by cutting your meat, egg and dairy consumption in half!  
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Did You Know?
  • ​Beef & the Amazon Rainforest - American's beef consumption is 4x higher than world average and contributes almost half of our dietary footprint. Cattle farming & soy farms to make animal feed are the leading causes for the deforestation of our largest rainforest, The Amazon — nearly four times the size of Alaska. The trees and plants of the Amazon forest pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere as part of photosynthesis. Destruction of the forest releases carbon stored in the trees and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide used by them. It also means the loss of countless species and indigenous populations that call the tropical rainforest home. The world’s atmosphere is currently holding about 415 parts per million of carbon, and the destruction of the Amazon would add roughly 38 parts per million.
  • ​Food Waste - The world produces enough food to feed 10 billion people (our world pop is 7.7 billion). Yet over 30% of the food we produce is wasted while 10% of the world's population lives in chronic hunger.  
  • Locally Grown Food - Locally grown food reduces the average distance of 1,300 miles that food travels from “field to plate.” In addition, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that more than 75% of agricultural genetic diversity was lost in the 20th century. Small, biodiverse farms preserve our food heritage. Industrial agribusiness cultivates monocultures of high-yield hybrids bred for fast maturation and thick skins to withstand mechanical harvest and transport.
  • Organic Food - Benefits to eating organic food include: more nutritious, fewer pesticides, fresher, and better for the environment. Organically raised animals are not given antibiotics, growth hormones and animal by-products. Help guide to eating organic  ​
  • Seafood Sustainability - Around the globe, fisheries are in trouble. The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization estimates that 85% of marine fish stocks are either fully exploited or overfished. The easiest and most important thing you can do is ask the question: "Do you serve sustainable seafood?" Let your favorite businesses know that ocean-friendly seafood is on your shopping list. Learn more 
Resources:
​Day 2: Transportation Tuesday​​
Bike, walk, run and move around without generating emissions. Reflect on how the new COVID-19 world may share a lesson on how we can limit non-essential travel and flights. Stay Safe.

(Put on pause for Covid-19: Carpool, Uber pool & Lyft line, Use public transport.)
Why is this important? ​25% of the average American's carbon footprint comes from driving. Every gallon of gasoline pumps 24 lbs of CO2 and other greenhouse gasses (GHG) into the air, and the average American drives almost 14,000 miles per year! In South Florida, where urban sprawl is a big problem, we waste even more gas sitting in traffic. It is not surprising that cars (and air conditioners) are the two biggest emitters in South Florida. ​In 2015, transportation accounted for 49% of Miami-Dade emissions - a significantly higher percentage than similar-sized cities like Chicago (25%), Washington D.C. (23%), and Denver (20%) who have more effective, and thus more frequently used public transit, walking, and biking infrastructure.

Did You Know?
  • Public Transportation - An estimated 79% of South Florida’s commuters drive alone, while only 3% of South Florida’s commuters use public transportation. Public transport saves the U.S. 4.2 Billion gallons of gasoline annually. Investing in public transportation would help the environment and reduce traffic.
  • Air Travel - Air travel is one of the highest polluting industries, and carbon emissions are projected to triple by 2050 as demand for air travel rises. Some technological innovations like biofuels, lighter materials and aerodynamic designs may help make future airplanes become more energy efficient.
  • Electric vehicles - Electric vehicles do not generate emissions, however they may still be charged with electricity generated from nonrenewable sources powering the grid. In Florida, more than two-thirds of our electricity is generated from natural gas while less than 3% comes from renewable sources. When purchasing an electric vehicle, homeowners often consider pairing it with a solar panel system on their roofs to charge their cars. Solar is an investment that pays itself back in about 7 years, because the money you would have spent on electricity goes towards your solar panels.  
Resources:
Day 3: Water Wednesday
Become mindful about your relationship with water, and find ways to protect your access to clean water. Here are some ideas:
  • Find at least three ways to conserve water in your home or daily habits.
  • COVID-19 water challenge: Save water while washing your hands, turning the faucet off while you lather your hands for 20 seconds.​
  • Meditate on how you are thankful for having clean water!
  • ​BONUS: Complete the Water Wednesday challenge designed by our partner Audubon Florida. Learn about why the Everglades is important to our water supply in South Florida and how to communicate that story. Then share your story to friends, family or elected leaders. Link to: Fact Sheet
Why is this important? ​Water is life. Take notice of every time you use it to brush your teeth, shower, cook, flush your toilet, wash dishes, wash clothes or water your lawn. How much do you depend on access to affordable clean water? Clean water is a human right, yet that right is being threatened for the future. By 2025, two-thirds of the world's population will run short of fresh drinking water. Climate change increases the odds of worsening drought throughout the world. In South Florida, sea level rise and other sources are contaminating the Biscayne Aquifer that supplies 7 million people.
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Key water issues for Florida:
  • Protecting Florida’s Coral Reef
  • Banning fracking in the Everglades
  • Algae blooms  
  • Sea level rise
  • Sewage and septic tank leaks
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Did You Know?
  • World Water Wars - The devastating civil war in Syria was catalyzed by the longest drought in the region's modern history. The World Economic Forum predicts that in the near future, wars around the world will be fought over dwindling access to fresh water.
  • Water privatization occurs when private corporations buy public water utilities. This undermines the human right to water as private corporations make decisions based on profitability rather than universal access.
  • Using the Law - ​One of the most effective tools for protecting our water resources is the legal system. Miami Waterkeeper is a local non-profit that initiates state and federal legal action against actors who are harming South Florida's water resources and surrounding Bay. Support their legal fund. 
  • Fracking involves drilling deep into the ground and injecting a mixture composed of water, sand, and chemicals into the well in order to fracture or dissolve the surrounding rock to harvest gas and oil.  Fracking creates a major risk for water contamination due to accidents and leaks. Hundreds of cases of water contamination due to fracking have been reported around the country, including studies of carcinogens leaking from drilling and fracking waste pits.
Resources: 
Day 4: Trashy Thursday
Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Re-purpose, Recycle & Rot - All the R's for a Zero Waste Life! Say no to single use plastic straws, bags, cups or styrofoam. Try to create as little trash as you can today.
​Why is this important? Our society discards a tremendous amount of trash with little regard for the energy and materials used in its creation or the effects it has on the environment. In all honesty, going Zero Waste is a nearly impossible task in today's society (until we change the systems). It requires extreme diligence and the privilege of free time to do so. However, you can begin by eliminating many single-use items from your life - plastic bags, bottles, straws, and utensils.  

Most American households fill a 64 gallon bin of trash every week. What if you could minimize that to a small bag per week?   

Did You Know?
  • Single Use Mindset - Americans throw away enough paper and plastic cups, forks and spoons every year to circle the earth 300 times! And that is just a fraction of the waste we produce.
  • Plastic Problems - Over 8 millions ton of plastic waste leak into the ocean every year. Massive plastic trash islands circulate in all of the major oceans and degrade into tiny microplastics. All this plastic is consumed by sea animals, making their way up the food chain...to us. It is estimated that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050...yikes!  
  • Recycling isn’t the best solution - As of January 2018, China stopped accepting our recycling imports because of high contamination rates, so the material has nowhere to go. The best solution is to reduce waste!  
  • ​Electronics waste - A United Nations study reported that 44.7 million tons of e-waste was discarded in 2016, and only 20% of it was disposed of properly. Electronic waste is currently growing 3X faster compared to other types of waste due to increasing worldwide demand and shorter product life spans as technology is constantly updated. As consumers, we must break the upgrade habit and keep devices for longer, consider repairing before replacement, and safely dispose of our old tech. Find out the different ways to recycle old electronics 
Resources:
Day 5: Civic Friday
Today's challenge is about shifting our future through systems change! Be vocal and exercise your power as a voter and influencer. If you think your individual actions only count a little bit, this is your challenge to amplify your impact through your communities. 
  • Learn who your elected officials are, and write to them. For tips on how to write your letters - See our guide 
  • Do your own research on which policy and business actions to support 
  • Tell at least two friends or family members about what you learned this week, and recruit them to also take the 7 day challenge.
  • Use social media to spread the message.

What can we learn from COVID-19 about the importance of early action and government intervention? Read article by Yale Environment 360 "Coronavirus Holds Key Lessons on How to Fight Climate Change"
Why is this important? Creating a sustainable society will require radical changes to decarbonize all key systems that support our livelihood including food, water, energy, transportation, buildings and economy. We cannot solve this global crisis without change from our largest institutions: governments and corporations. Systems change often occurs slowly due to bureaucracy, counterproductive lobbyists and political gridlock. A key solution to combat this inaction involves grassroots movements. It’s natural for people to feel that their individual actions aren’t enough to affect change, however: (1) Never underestimate the power of a motivated individual and (2) When united, individuals become movements.

Did You Know? Polls show that voters consistently rank environmental issues among their lowest concerns in every election. This is a huge problem. Politicians want to win elections, and if environmental issues are a low priority for voters, they will be a low priority for policy makers. Yet polls also show that tens of millions of Americans strongly prioritize progressive environmental policies – the real problem is that these people do not vote. Indeed, even in recent nation-wide elections, over 15 million individually identified environmentalists have stayed at home on Election Day. Environmental Voter Project is a nonprofit whose mission is to get more environmentalists to vote in every election.
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Carbon Price: a significant solution you can support
Carbon Price has been referred to by different names, most commonly known as a carbon "tax", "price" or "dividend". The core concept is the same - Put a price per ton on the CO2 emissions of industry polluters. Many market economists agree that pricing carbon is the most efficient and business-friendly way to reduce emissions and promote a more rapid transition to green industries. Without a carbon price, polluters are making unfair profits by passing off the costs of climate impact they are causing to society at large. This ends up magnifying the cost paid by society, because prevention is much cheaper than paying to fix a problem after it’s gotten really bad.  

How You Can Help - Write your elected officials to let them know you support a carbon price. 
  • To support action at the U.S. federal level, learn about the bipartisan Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. You can use the Citizen Climate Lobby’s form to write to Congress about supporting this carbon price bill. You can use their template as a beginning point, however it is much more impressionable if you take the time to write a more personal note using your own words.​
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Other Big Ideas That Combat Climate Change 
  • Fossil Fuel Divestment - Ask your institutions (company you work at or invest in, college or university, religious organization, retirement fund) to divest its investment portfolios from investing funds in fossil fuel industries.
  • Corporate Sustainability Goals - Ask corporations to commit to environmental goals e.g. 100% renewable energy, sustainable product supply chain and greening its building facilities.
  • Green New Deal - Bold legislation introduced to U.S. Congress promoting a vision for 100% renewable energy, green jobs & justice.
  • Universal Basic Income, 4-Day Work Weeks, Work From Home - Promoting a more balanced lifestyle may have climate benefits.

Remember that action happens at every level of government and business - from local to federal! The key is to generate more awareness on the things that matter.  
 

​Resources:
  • Find out who your elected officials are based on your address. If you live in Florida, use this website.
  • Try our letter writing activity for Civic Friday - see pdf
Day 6: Spring Clean Saturday 
For COVID-19: Sustainably spring clean your home. Find ways you can green and simplify your home and products. Here are some ideas:
  • Spring clean your home using sustainable cleaning products and methods. See Green Spring Cleaning Tips from Sierra Club
  • Go through your household items and other products and think about how you can switch to greener options.
  • How can you streamline your future consumption habits to consume less?
  • Which products can you replace with more sustainable options? 
  • What commitments can you make?
  • Try the Marie Kondo Method for organizing your home and only keep the things that bring you joy. Donate or sell the rest.
(This challenge was updated due to the recommendation to stay home during COVID-19. Previously Shop Green Saturday - Use your money wisely to support the businesses who align with your values. Learn about which businesses are minimizing their environmental impact. Donate your money or time to environmental causes you believe in. ​Talk to your favorite local business about how they can make their business more sustainable.)
Why is this important? ​It is easy to place the blame on other forces larger than us, but between 60- 80% of the impacts on the planet are driven by household consumption. If we change our consumption habits, it would have a huge effect on our environmental footprint, budgets and even happiness. Minimalism is a movement that is growing in popularity, because people realize that simplifying their lives and uncluttering brings more happiness by allowing us to focus on the most important things - which aren’t things! 

Your first move should be to reduce your own waste. Buy less things, drive fewer miles, fly less, don’t overheat or over-cool your home. Then, learn about the companies who are environmentally and socially responsible. These are the companies you want to support. The traditional view of a corporation’s fiduciary duty is to increase profits to its shareholders, however more consumers and investors now believe that businesses also need to care about improving society. 

Ways to shop green:
  • Items made with recycled materials.
  • Sustainably sourced wood. Make sure that any products made from new timber - from garden chairs to paper and envelopes – carry the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label.
  • Sustainably produced food. Choose organic food and MSC-certified seafood. Also choose processed foods – like margarine, frozen dinners and ice cream – from companies that use certified sustainable palm oil.
  • Energy-efficient appliances and equipment.
  • Biodegradable cleaning products. These have fewer negative impacts on the soil and water system.
  • Reduce bags and packaging.
  • Choose fibers with low water consumption such as linen and recycled fibers.
  • Buy less!

Ways to spring clean green:
  1. Use non-toxic cleaning products. Vinegar, water and baking soda can handle most daily cleaning needs. Use natural fiber sponges and cleaning agents that are biodegradable, phosphate-free, chlorine-free, and unscented.
  2. Reduce paper use. Use rags instead of paper towels and wash them for reuse. Buy post-consumer recycled paper and recycle it when you’re done.
  3. Repair instead of replace. Spring is wonderful time for a fresh start. But think twice before you throw out that perfectly good pair of shoes or piece of clothing from “last season.” The longer you use an item, the less virgin materials are needed to replace it.
  4. Minimize lawn care impacts. A lawn has significant environmental impacts. All that watering, fertilizing, mowing and pest control exact a toll on the planet. So minimize how much of your yard is devoted to lawn. And consider a smart device like the Smart Garden Hub, which can help save up to 50% of the water you sprinkle on a lawn.
  5. Manage your heating and AC for energy efficiency.

Did You Know?
  • Fast Fashion - The fashion industry has a disastrous impact on the environment. People around the world collectively consume more than 80 billion items of clothing each year, and those items are increasingly seen as disposable. On average, each American throws away roughly 70 pounds of clothing and other textiles per year, equivalent in weight to more than 200 men’s T-shirts. The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of the world's carbon footprint and is the second greatest polluter of local freshwater in the world when untreated toxic waste waters from textile factories are dumped directly into rivers. Huge quantities of fresh water are used for the dyeing and finishing process for all of our clothes. It can take up to 200 tons of fresh water to dye one ton of fabric. Also, cotton needs A LOT of water to grow. Up to 20,000 liters of water are needed to produce just 1 kg of cotton. On the other hand, synthetic fibers release microplastics into the water system when washed. Learn more about the environmental impacts of the fashion industry. 
  • Palm oil - Palm oil is the most commonly produced vegetable oil at 66 million tons annually. Oil palm trees are a highly efficient crop, but they’ve been grown at the expense of vast stretches of thriving forests in Southeast Asia. Their spread has resulted in human rights abuses, endangering species, and contributing to global warming through deforestation. Palm oil can be found in half of all supermarket products, from frozen pizzas, to processed foods, body creams, soaps, makeup, candles and detergents. How can you help? Write product manufacturers, and ask them to use domestic oils. See WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard to check up on companies. It requires a little time and research, but it is worth it.
  • Carbon offsets - Offsets are an option for individuals and businesses to counteract their carbon impact by funding projects that reduce carbon emissions, such as planting trees or installing solar panels. However buying carbon offsets requires some research to verify authenticity. See this NRDC article: Should You Buy Carbon Offsets.
  • The Good News - There is a growing wave of companies that are championing environmental initiatives. Nearly 100 major corporations including Apple, Facebook, Google and Ikea have committed to 100% renewable energy goals through the RE100 initiative.
  • Charitable Giving - Over 70% of nonprofit giving comes from individuals. On this day, we challenge you to find out more about the many exceptional environmental organizations and donate to support our shared mission to create a healthier future. You can donate to our organization Before It's Too Late. We appreciate your support!

​Resources:
Every time you spend money, you are casting a vote for the kind of world you want.” - Anna Lappé
Day 7: Nature Sunday
Congratulations Eco Champions! ​You've reached day 7 of our challenge! Today is about spending time in Nature.
  • Do a meditation where you reflect upon all things you appreciate on our planet and the actions you resolve to continue in your life from this week’s challenge.  
  • Make a trip to your local park or one Florida's natural treasures - the Everglades, the Reef and the Springs. 
How you treat Nature is how you treat yourself, for we are intricately connected."
Try this meditation & imagination exercise:

Breathe the crisp air that fills your lungs.
Soak in the golden rays of sunlight.
Gaze upon the greens of our trees,
the blues of our lakes, oceans and skies.

Think of the tremendous biodiversity of species that we share this planet with.
Feel awe for the splendor and miracles of our planet.
Remember how our planet nourishes our every need,
and how our actions can either restore or deplete our planet's power to give.

Can you fall in love with our Mother Earth?
Thank her for all her gifts which make life possible. 
Accept your responsibility and power in protecting her gifts. 

Unplug from the digital world.
Tune in to your inner wisdom.
What makes you feel healthier, more peaceful and more joyful? 

Think about all that you learned and the actions you took this week.
​Can you carry forward these changes to form new mindsets and habits?
Resources:
  • Download our favorite free meditation app called Insight Timer with the largest & most diverse library of guided meditations that can be filtered by topic & length​​
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Congratulations and thank you for taking this challenge for our beautiful planet! Please do the 7 Day Challenge again to grow your practice into new habits.

Sincerely,
The Before It's Too Late Team

BITL

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