CarbonSavings: a blockchain-powered move-to-earn app for citizen’s awareness on greenhouse gas emissions

Xiang Vico, Hong-ming

CarbonSavings: a blockchain-powered move-to-earn app for citizen’s awareness on greenhouse gas emissions

Citation

Xiang Vico, H. CarbonSavings: a blockchain-powered move-to-earn app for citizen’s awareness on greenhouse gas emissions. 2023. handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10230/58365

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Abstract

Move-to-earn (M2E) is a blockchain-based business model that promotes physical activity through a mobile phone application in exchange for earning digital assets rewards. In this project, the sustainable potential of the model is explored to reduce the impact of transportation emissions in cities, which contributes to increasing the global climate change problem. Our solution proposes the development of a M2E application, called CarbonSavings, embedding a carbon footprint algorithm. Its aim is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced by individuals and to promote sustainable mobility behaviors while educating users about their carbon footprint impact. The project begins with a market exploration to analyze existing applications and continues with literature research to identify state-of-the-art methods for calculating GHG emissions. The outcomes are used to design a proof-of-concept application with native cryptocurrency rewards, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), or leaderboards as gaming features. The M2E model is implemented to motivate users to use sustainable transportation such as walking or biking over high-emission alternatives like driving private vehicles. Inside the application, users can set their personal goals, track their progress and rewards, or follow their mitigation footprint, by means of the designed algorithm, among other functionalities. The proof-of-concept is developed using Android native development with Kotlin programming language and Jetpack Compose. The blockchain layer is built on the Ethereum blockchain, using Solidity Smart Contracts for business logic. Moreover, a complementary landing page with an open-source carbon footprint calculator is deployed to raise user awareness and promote the application's usage. Finally, Barcelona City has been selected to scope the proof-of-concept, serving as a teaser to showcase the project’s capabilities targeting real users. The results of this project have the potential to contribute to Sustainable Development Goals #11 and #13 from the United Nations 2030 Agenda and empower individuals to take action against climate change, aligned with the Planetary Wellbeing program of the UPF.

Description

Treball guanyador del segon premi del 2023 en Benestar Planetari convocat conjuntament per la UPF, la UPF-BSM i la càtedra UNESCO de Cicle de Vida i Canvi Climàtic ESCI-UPF, al millors treballs de fi de grau (TFG) sobre temes de Benestar Planetari.
Treball de fi de grau en Informàtica. Curs 2022-2023
Tutors: Miquel Oliver Riera i Fabio Della Valle