This is my response to the seventh United Nations Millennial Development Goal of ensuring environmental sustainability.

1. Ensure
Environmental
Sustainability

2. Why does it
resonate with
me?
 This goal resonated most with me because of
my background in the Natural Sciences. As a
Biomedical Sciences major, I have learned about
the devastating effects that climate change has
on the planet and all of its inhabitants. The
unsustainable habits of humans including
deforestation, greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere from cars and factories, and the
amount of garbage we throw away each year all
contribute greatly to climate change. At the
current rate of climate change, 60% of all
species on earth will be extinct in 500 years.
We as a society need to adopt more sustainable
everyday practices in order to ensure that we
and future generations can continue to live on
earth.

3. How can my
interests be
applied locally?
 There are many things that are being done
locally to help ensure environmental
sustainability. The University of Washington
does its part to contribute to this goal by
providing separate bins for trash, recycling, and
compost all throughout all three campuses.
There are also filtered water stations to refill
water bottles in order to help reduce waste
from plastic bottles.
 In addition, as of July 2017, single-use plastic
bags are no longer permitted for use in Tacoma
retail stores. There is also a minimum $0.05
fee for paper bags purchased in store. Similar
legislation has been approved throughout the
state in various cities or counties, but there is
currently not an statewide ban.

4. Where can I
personally make
the greatest
contribution?
 I can personally make the greatest contribution
in a number of small ways, including doing my
part to reduce, reuse and recycle. I always
endeavor to properly dispose of all the
materials I use and be conscious of my everyday
use of water and electricity. I also reduce my
contribution to greenhouse gas emissions in the
atmosphere by commuting to school by public
transit instead of by car. Another way I can
contribute to the goal is by purchasing
sustainably produced/sourced items such as
food and cleaning supplies.

5. Is there a feature
of social media
that can be
uniquely applied
to this goal?
 A social media feature that can be applied to
this goal includes the use pictures and videos.
The major social media platforms: Facebook,
Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat all allow users
to upload pictures and videos. Short videos can
be made which easily and effectively inform
users of the effects of climate change. Pictures
can be posted to show just how the earth and
the people, plants and animals who inhabit it
are affected. Videos and infographics can be
uploaded which outline ways users can be
environmentally sustainable. In the digital age,
people are more likely to interact with and pay
attention to visual media. We need to use that
to our advantage when deciding how to present
important information to people who utilize
social media.