First carbon footprint tracking app in Middle East unveiled – The Peninsula

First carbon footprint tracking app in Middle East unveiled – The Peninsula

Doha: The Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar (AYCMQ) has launched the Middle East’s first carbon footprint app to commemorate Earth Day. The Qatar-based organisation’s initiative is supported by grant funding from the United States of America (USA) Embassy in Qatar.

The launch of the app complements the ‘Household Carbon Footprint Initiative,’ launched last year. The event was attended by US Chargé d’Affaires Ian McCary, ministry officials, US Embassy staff and the AYCMQ team, including Neeshad Shafi, Executive Director, Dr. Sayeed Mohammed, Director and Project Lead of the initiative and Hessa Al Noaimi, Director of Strategic Partnerships.

Carbon footprint means the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere due to the activities of a particular individual, organisation, or community. On the other hand, offsetting is paying for others to reduce emissions or absorb CO2 to compensate for one’s emissions. In theory, carbon offsets help balance the carbon footprint by funding environmental projects that reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

One carbon offset credit supposedly equals one metric tonne of carbon dioxide, or a comparable amount of other greenhouse gases, removed from the air.

The footprint tracking app will calculate the approximate footprint for each household after the information is entered in the designated