Apps for Climate Change: Get Your Vote On!

Created by a team from the University of Victoria, MathTappers: Carbon Choices is designed mainly for students to help make them aware of the impact of everyday activities (like playing video games, showering, eating and going to school) on the environment.

Can technology help raise awareness of climate change? And if so, can it motivate people enough to make a difference?

The British Columbia government thinks so. The province’s Climate Action Secretariat, GeoBC, and Ministry of Citizens' Services teamed up to sponsor an “Apps for Climate Action Contest.”

The contest challenges Canadian software developers to raise awareness of climate change and “inspire action to reduce carbon pollution by using data in new applications for the web and mobile devices,” according to the contest website.

Application developers were given until August 8 to submit their applications. On August 11, the government posted a list of the apps on the website and invited the public -- you and me -- to vote on the best one. The deadline for voting is August 29 and the winners will be announced on September 16. In the meantime, besides going to the website, you can follow A4CA on Twitter or become a Facebook fan.

Thanks to some private sector sponsors, there are lots of prizes available -- best mobile app, best web app, people’s choice and overall best app. The grand prize winner will receive $5,500, and second and third place in each category also brings a cash prize. Honourable mentions get an iPhone or Harbour Air Certificate.

App developers were required to use the government’s catalogue of climate and greenhouse gas emission data to design “fun and innovative climate action apps.”

And what of the 16 apps in the contest? Are they “fun and innovative”? You can judge for yourself of course, by going to the website and checking them out. (You need to register your email address in order to vote).

May the best app win.