WWF launches CO2 calculator
2008-10-16 08:38
Cape Town - The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) conservation organisation, in partnership with BULKSMS.com, on Wednesday launched MyCO2Print, South Africa's first Mobile Carbon Footprint calculator.
"MyCO2Print is primarily an awareness tool," explains WWF communications co-ordinator, Carolyn Cramer.
"It is far simpler than the carbon footprint calculators available on the web and this is intentional.
"We wanted a tool which would enable South Africans to measure their carbon footprint in terms of travel and energy use and to try to improve it on a monthly basis."
MyCO2Print provides users with an approximate rand value of the carbon emissions they are producing.
This calculation is based on figures derived from the Stern Report.
The tool also records users' data and allows for a comparison of results on a monthly basis.
Youth focus
"While the MyCO2Print will be useful to everyone, we are particularly hoping that it will be relevant to the younger generation," explains Cramer.
"We envisage school teachers using it as a innovative tool in the classroom to educate on climate change and the environment."
To try out the MyCO2Print calculator, sms "CO2" to 34017 using your wap-enabled phone. SMSs charged at R2.
MyCO2Print was developed by Steven Weiss for WWF South Africa. It is WWF's second mobile conservation tool, the first being SASSI FishMS.
In order to find out whether seafood choices are sustainable or not users SMS their choice of seafood to 079 499 8795 and receive an instant reply advising on the status of the seafood in question.