SDG 2: Zero hunger

I pledge to create and nurture my own veggie patch in my backyard. My aim is to produce nutritious vegetables and vegetable products for my family. I’ll extend this to the local community through vegetable swapping, and by making a share of the produce available to those vulnerable to undernutrition through food drives and contributing to a community kitchen. I will also aim to encourage other Monash students to live more sustainably by raising awareness not only on the value of being more sustainable but also on exactly what kind of actions a person can make to achieve this on both a personal and communal scale. Along with making this personal change and helping others to start their own sustainability journey I also intend to make it more accessible for students to continue growing their influence on sustainability with Monash University.

I am going to pledge to fight food waste in 3 ways, which will help to reduce food sent to landfill and thus reduce the production harmful greenhouse emissions in the long term. 1) Continue to recycle my food scraps and use the compost I produce for my veggie garden; 2) Support food rescues by volunteering at my local Foodbank; 3) Reduce my plate waste by making sure I finish all the food on my plate or at least ensure food can be stored and saved for later. Overall, I hope to minimise my food print!

There are around 815 million people that are starving in the world. Yet food wastage is something that occurs daily around us. Due to our habit of large portion sizing and unhealthy habits, perfectly good food is thrown out. My one step is to work toward responsible consumption and production, and eliminating all food waste I produce. I intend to do so by buying smaller amounts of food that is ethically sourced, and taking extra measures to ensure the longevity of the food I do purchase, such as leaving vegetables in jars filled with water in the fridge, and wrapping herbs in a damp cloth.

I'll be committing to a vegetarian plant-based lifestyle. I've been eager to embark on this lifestyle choice for its two-fold efforts. The environmental impact of eating meat is too significant to ignore, with meat production being a significant contributor to greenhouse emissions. Being vegetarian will also preserve habitats and decrease deforestation. The additional benefits of having a healthy lifestyle are an added bonus. I am really excited to start this journey to help the environment and fight for social justice.

Without help, the people, communities and natural environments that are significantly impacted by global challenges struggle to overcome these challenges and experience a sustainable and prosperous future. This One Step has the potential to work towards achieving each one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It consists of creating a sponsored sustainability focused leadership program for emerging leaders at Monash University. Students will be sponsored to lead a project addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Projects could include establishing a system where children and their families in Nepal have access to vaccinations, building appropriate education facilities in Bangladesh, travelling to Kenya to install clean water and sanitation facilities or stopping all single-use plastic consumption in Monash University. In addition, each project would aim to empower locals in each destination by equipping them with the knowledge and resources enabling them to continue sustainable practices in the future. It is the aim that each program will contribute to global sustainability while developing the sustainable leadership of Monash University students.

It is devastating how much some human beings live without. According to the World Bank, there are at least 1.1 billion people living in extreme poverty, barely able to afford food, clothing, medicine and other basic necessities. Here in Australia, many of us are fortunate enough to afford an excess of these necessities. I never want to take for granted how fortunate I am. Share The Meal is an app created by the UN World Food Programme that offers us an affordable and easy way to feed undernourished children in countries such as Syria, Yemen and Uganda. When I first saw this app I was inspired! What an incredible way to tackle extreme poverty and hunger around the globe! For every meal I enjoy over the next 12 months which was not made with my own two hands, I pledge today to share it with a hungry child.

Actively seeking to make the work office environmentally friendly and promoting activities supporting eco-friendliness.

Awareness of problems should be followed by action. We need to win this war against Irresponsible, Selfish, Unsustainable Homo sapiens. @worldwidegreenewarriors (Facebook page)

if working in restaurants or hotels, pack the extra food and share it with hungry and homeless lovely people.

This year I have pledged to grow and maintain a vegetable garden in line with permaculture principles. My one step involves undertaking a holistic approach to gardening from composting, planting and harvesting to appreciating the health and well-being benefits of gardening. 1) Do companion planting to encourage biodiversity, particularly beneficial insects, such as bees! 2) Use mulch and compost to reduce water inputs and reduce food waste. 3) Watch and learn from growing – ‘observe and interact’ with the garden. Share my freshly grown organic vegetables and herbs with family and friends, so we all enjoy the health benefits of more veggies and less pesticides! *See image for my progress so far ~