Chandigarh department designs app to assess carbon footprint
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 16
City residents can now calculate the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere with the help of their mobile phones.
The Department of Environment, UT, has developed a mobile app, “Carbon Watch”, for city residents to assess their carbon footprint and steps to reduce it in order to make them climate-smart citizens.
Launched through online platform
- Debendra Dalai, Director, UT Environment, launched the application through an online platform. The e-inaugural of the app was attended by teachers, students and research scholars from various colleges, schools, universities and research institutes. This app works on all Android smart phones.
Apart from Chandigarh residents, others can also create their account on the app and calculate their carbon footprint, which is the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a particular individual, organisation or community.
Debendra Dalai, Director, UT Environment, launched the application through online platform. The e-inaugural of the app was attended by teachers, students and research scholars from various colleges, schools, universities and research institutes. This app works on all Android smart phones.
Dalai said this app was an initiative of the department to keep the city and the country in the vanguard of climate initiatives. “In the context of climate action, countrywide emission targets, thrust on renewable and policy changes are some of the oft-suggested measures. While these macro-level interventions play their part, the role of a citizen is equally paramount,” he said.
He said the Department of Forest, Chandigarh Administration, has agreed to plant equal number of saplings during the ensuing monsoon season to the total number of app downloads.
At the outset of the event, there was an interactive session with teachers and students regarding causes of carbon emissions, their effects on the environment and how an individual can minimise the same.
A brief presentation on how an individual can calculate his carbon footprint by using the app was demonstrated. During the live presentation, it was also communicated that the app focuses on individuals’ actions and calculates carbon footprint on the basis of transport, energy, waste and water consumption. It also suggests remedial actions and sensitises people about their lifestyle emissions, their impact and possible countermeasures to mitigate the same.
Officials from the Environment Department and the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee were also present.
