The city denizens can now assess their carbon footprint and contribute to maintain a clean environment. For, a mobile app “Carbon Watch” was launched here on Tuesday.
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 sensitize people about their lifestyle emissions, their impact and possible countermeasures to mitigate the same.
The mobile app has been developed by the Department of Environment, Chandigarh Administration for the residents to assess their carbon footprint and take steps to reduce it in order to make them climate-smart citizens. This mobile app works on all Android supporting smart phones, said Debendra Dalai, Director Environment, Chandigarh.
He said that apart from Chandigarh residents, others can also make their account on the “Carbon Watch” and calculate their carbon footprint.
Dalai informed that this app is an initiative of the Department to keep the city and country in the vanguard of climate initiatives. In the context of climate action, country-wide emissions targets, thrust on renewables, and policy changes are some of the oft-suggested measures. But while these macro-level interventions play their part, the role of a citizen is equally paramount, he added.
He informed that the UT Department of Forest has agreed to plant an equal number of saplings during the ensuing monsoon season to the total number of mobile app downloads.The citizens can download the app by scanning following QR Code or by accessing URL “https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.carboneye”and for any feedback or suggestion can write to the Department at ch-env@nic.in, Dalai added.
Notably, with an aim to improve air quality in the city, a 24 metres (78 feet) tall air purifier will also be installed here. The tower will be fitted with a system to suck polluted air, pass it through a filter which separates the particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM10) and release the clean air.
In the past few years, Chandigarh has recorded a high concentration of PM 10- (particulate matters with diameter of 10 microns or less) and PM2.5 (particulate matters less than 2.5 microns)-form of air pollution, which is considered most serious. As per the general analysis by Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee, stubble burning, vehicle emissions, industries emissions and construction works are the major factors for air pollution in the city.