BACKGROUND

For the past century, there has been a steady increase in the global temperature. NASA’s data (http://eyes.nasa.gov) shows us an approximate of 10 ppm increase in Carbon dioxide concentration from year 2015 to 2019. A small difference you might say, but this lead to forest fires, to long droughts, and to dreadful hurricanes.

Global warming has received blame for everything, but who really is the responsible body as to the cause of this phenomenon? Believe it or not, every one, WE are the cause of this climate change. Factories and power plants may be the biggest contributors, but us, individuals, has also been contributing to the production of carbon dioxide through our daily activities (NASA GISS/Unger, 2010).

Transportation is an intensive carbon-emitting activity that is a big part of everyone’s daily routine. Nadine Unger of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS’s) study revealed that among the different sectors in the society, on-road transportation sector releases the most significant amounts of carbon dioxide, black carbon, and ozone in the atmosphere.

Carbon emissions produced due to transportation vary from individual to individual, that’s why the solution to lessening the production of this can also come from each of us. We can do something about it.

So, let me introduce you to “Chill Trip” - a mobile app designed to provide users, specifically those with private vehicles that has no pre-determined route, with the possible options that utilize the lowest carbon emission per individual. It helps users realize the amount of carbon emission that would be emitted during their transportation. The app is anchored with a map, presenting different route options, in consideration to real-time traffic situation, with computed carbon emission emission for each. In addition, this app enables you to record your data and provide statistics of your daily transport. Your data can be shared on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media platforms to entice others to sign-up and join the movement.

Now, let’s go explore our app and how it will work. Upon entering, users will be asked to sign up by providing their username and password. Then they are to provide information about their destination and vehicle of choice. The app will then present them with route options which include the distance and approximate travel time and carbon emission. After arriving to the said destination, the carbon emission data analytics will be shown. An additional feature of this app is the link to NASA’s resources. One of which is the http://climate.nasa.gov/ that shows users the causes, effects, evidences, and solutions of global warming.

We are realizing that great things come from small beginnings. So, we do hope that you would help us develop this app and invest in this because we believe that this could be a start of something greater and bolder. This app is more than just a map or a calculator. This is a movement!

NASA Resources of the app (external links):

Climate Data

NASA Data

Earth Data

Worldview Earth Data

NASA Eyes

NASA Data LARC

Globe Observer

Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Global Warming

Causes of Global Warming:
Causes of Global Warming - NASA Data
How Carbon Causes Global Warming

Carbon dioxide levels:
Carbon Dioxide Levels are at a Record High. Here's what you need to know.
Vital Signs of the Planet - NASA Data
Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data
Carbon dioxide makes up 0.041% of the Earth's atmosphere. Here's why that tiny percentage has big consequences.

Carbon dioxide emissions:
Carbon Dioxide emissions are on track to take us beyond 1.5 degrees of global warming

Consequences of Carbon Emissions to Humans and the Environment :
Consequences of Carbon Emissions for Humans
Impact of Increasing Carbon Dioxide Emissions on Environment
How does your carbon footprint impact climate change?

Sustainable Development Goals:
Goal 13: Climate Action
Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Looking forward to a more sustainable future, we want to establish our app in a wider platform with a wider audience. Five to ten years from now, we envision a world with more proactive users that always look at the Greener side of things, thus leading to a Greener society. (And, through collective effect, helps address the root causes of global warming).