Punch Lists
A punch list can be for an individual, family, community, company, or city. It is the list of the actions you or a group will undertake and accomplish over a predetermined span of time—one month, one year, five years, or more. You can make different lists for different time periods—this week and this year for example.
featured punch lists
- Phase out single use plastics by use case, starting with food and beverage purchases outside the home and moving on to kitchen, bathroom, and lifestyle goods
- Purchase renewable energy credits for the energy use in my apartment.
- Set a clothing budget for the year of no more than ten new garments, at least 8 of which from vintage stores or smaller sustainable brands.
- Engage with a citizen’s climate action group, such as the Citizen’s Climate Lobby, to pressure my state and federal representatives to support climate policy and set ambitious emissions reduction targets.
- Support First Nations landback movements with recurring donations or by paying a land tax to the nations whose traditional lands I inhabit.
- Engage with my city council and other community groups to advocate for urban green space as well as the protection of open space preserves and local wildlife sanctuaries and/or corridors.
- Start or join a monthly climate and environmental justice reading group with friends and family to keep us all learning and in discussion about ways to joyfully hold one another accountable to Just Transition efforts.
- Long term, live somewhere with enough space to have a regenerative vegetable garden to feed myself and my family. In the meantime (and forever), buy as much of my food as possible from local regenerative farms through CSAs or farmer’s markets.
- Continue eating a plant-based diet and supporting those around me to do the same. Always remember that food choice is a privilege.
- Create and save a pot of money to be donated to environmental and social justice causes and organizations each month.
- Organize clothing and other item exchanges among friends and family -- everyone gets something “new” without waste. Personally, limit the number of new garments I buy each year, and when I do buy new clothes, make sure they are created by companies who use recycled or organic materials and pay their workers a living wage.
- At least once a month, call my Congresspeople to advocate for (or against) a current bill or issue.
- Practice yoga, other exercise, and meditation daily and explore other ways to reduce personal burnout.
- Shape my future educational and employment goals and choices around the intersection of what I’m good at and what I believe I can contribute to helping solve the climate crisis.
- Consistently carry reusable bags, containers, bottles, and utensils
- Collaborate with friends and family on less consumptive gift-giving and travel practices
- Sign up to pay the Shuumi Land Tax, in support of Ohlone sovereignty and the critical work of the Sogorea Te Land Trust
- Transition from a bank to a credit union and seek out socially and environmentally responsible options for saving / planning for retirement
- Volunteer 1-2 times a month at local urban farms
- Join a local environmental justice advocacy group
- Center climate justice in my upcoming graduate research and grant applications
- Shop local and buy organic whenever possible
- Spend at least three hours a week in local green spaces.
- Reduce meat intake by 90%, and learn at least two new recipes for delicious, affordable, plant-based food each month.
- Read at least two books focused on environmental justice each year.
- Over the next year, better educate myself on the environmental history of the place I’m living in.
- Commute via bike for trips under 10km each way.
- Power my home with 100% renewable energy by 2025.
- By 2022, participate in a community (discussion/ activist group) focused on increasing momentum and pressure for climate justice at least once a month.
- Email my local political representative to engage them in discussions on renewable energy or food system sustainability once a month.
- Establish a small-scale vermiculture system to compost kitchen and yard scraps.
- Make, ferment, and can as many foods to reduce waste, support local, and save money.
- Plant vegetables, herbs, fruit trees, and nut trees.
- Implement passive designs such as lighting, heating, cooling, and root cellar storage to minimize energy use.
- Install solar panels, energy storage, rainwater catchment, electric appliances, composting toilets, and a greywater system to produce, collect, and conserve energy and water.
- Adopt degraded land and regenerate it to an agro-ecosystem that sequesters carbon, produces food, retains water, supports wildlife, builds soil, and contributes to the community.
- Be a hub and host for community gatherings, education, expression, collaboration, conversation, and connection.
- Join a local climate advocacy community and attend my first meeting this month
- Start a monthly vegan dinner party series to convince meat-eating friends to make the switch next month
- Subscribe to a paid newsletter from an effective, independent climate journalist this year
- Launch a crowdsourced campaign to advocate for carbon product labels in San Diego this year
- Read at least six books from underrepresented voices in the climate movement this year
- Call my senators, congressional representative, and state representatives at least once a month to advocate for emerging climate priorities this year
- Host two ballot parties during the 2022 campaign cycle (for the primaries and full race) to talk through the best candidates and ballot initiatives for the climate with my friends and family members next year
- Knock on at least 300 doors during the 2022 campaign cycle for climate candidates up and down the ballot next year
- Organize the other tenants in my building to get a composting service and solar panels for our roof next month
- Avoid air travel by taking bus, train, or carpool wherever possible. Purchase 2x offsets (onsets) for any flights.
- Enjoy a plant-rich diet by prioritizing vegetarian food options and limiting consumption of responsibly raised fish and poultry to 2 days per week, and other meats to 1 time per month.
- Continue a car-free lifestyle using transit, walking, biking, and scooters for all local and last-mile trips.
- Minimize electricity consumption in my home by using windows and shades for natural ventilation and cooling. Turn off large power consumers like TVs, monitors, and appliances when not in use.
- Be a zero waste champion partnering with Recology, a local waste and recycling service provider, to advocate for proper waste reduction, composting, and recycling practices in my building and in my city.
- Continue composting any food waste and making purchasing decisions to minimize and eliminate packaging.
- Use my skills as a communications designer to support projects and initiatives locally and globally to inform and inspire others to be engaged in regeneration.
- Find a way to compost in my apartment, and ask my municipality for a composting service
- Stop using my apartment’s gas heater - replace with electric space heaters, sweaters, and blankets
- Buy all vegetables, fruit, and eggs from local or regional organic/regenerative farmers, CSAs, or organic from small businesses
- Find and subscribe to a renewable electricity source
- Plant a pollinator’s garden
- Purchase 3x carbon offsets if I fly
- Buy no more than five great garments per year
- Switch to a renewable energy utility provider.
- Get at least 10 new people involved in our local climate movement.
- Eat plant-based meals 90% of the week.
- Learn to repair, mend, and alter secondhand clothing to completely cut myself off from fast fashion.
- Switch from plastic-packaged cosmetics to dry shampoo bars and products that can be refilled in recyclable glass bottles.
- Choose active mobility and public transport instead of private transport for over 95% of my trips within the city.
- Write to my bank to divest from fossil fuel projects in the region, and bank with alternative co-operative finance systems.
- Replace our 2003 Subaru with a low kWh EV (ie 25 kWh per 100 miles) / 2022-3
- Determine the amount of solar minimally needed to power our new EV (ie four 290w panels)
then pick a solar system that could scale; purchase panels, batteries, and charger / 2022-3 - Explore weatherization options for our 40-year old house (which leaks heat) / 2021-2
- Explore heating options for our house (baseboard + wood now), including a heat pump / 2022
- We hardly travel anymore by air; when we do, purchase Gold Standard offsets / 2021
- Reduce our water use by 25% (including a leaky shower) and use it more efficiently; 2021
- Keep learning; find new forums for advocating regenerative ideas and practices / 2021