CarbonKit: Designing A Personal Carbon Tracking Platform

TL;DR

CarbonKit is a comprehensive personal carbon tracking platform that integrates behavioral feedback, social media, and incentives to motivate individuals to reduce their carbon footprint, with privacy safeguards and potential for regional implementation.

Contribution

This paper introduces CarbonKit, a novel platform combining data, incentives, and privacy protocols to promote personal carbon footprint reduction.

Findings

Design of a multi-module platform linking carbon tracking and incentives

Framework for privacy and data control in carbon tracking systems

Potential for regional policy integration and voluntary adoption

Abstract

Ubiquitous technology platforms have been created to track and improve health and fitness; similar technologies can help individuals monitor and reduce their carbon footprints. This paper proposes CarbonKit, a platform combining technology, markets, and incentives to empower and reward people for reducing their carbon footprint. We argue that a goal-and-reward behavioral feedback loop can be combined with the Big Data available from tracked activities, apps, and social media to make CarbonKit an integral part of individuals daily lives. CarbonKit comprises five modules that link personal carbon tracking, health and fitness, social media, and economic incentives. Protocols for safeguarding security, privacy and individuals control over their own data are essential to the design of the CarbonKit. Initially CarbonKit would operate on a voluntary basis, but such a system can also serve as part of a mandatory region-wide initiative. We use the example of the British Columbia to illustrate the regulatory framework and participating stakeholders that would be required to support the CarbonKit in specific jurisdictions.