Mobile Technology You Can Really Move To
- December 3rd, 2007
- Posted by Sian Graham
From the simple handheld portable phone, to colour screens, polyphonic tones, cameras, PDF and the Internet, today’s mobile can even record your carbon emissions.
On Friday (30.11.07) European Commission researchers launched the first mobile application that uses your phone to track your carbon footprint.
The application known as mobGAS has been developed for use in the 27 EU countries, and will come available in 21 languages.
Currently only the Slovak and German editions can be downloaded.
Scientists at the EC Joint Research Centre will demonstrate the new technology at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, beginning today (3.12.07) in Bali.
AUSTRALIA COMMITS TO THE CAUSE
Australia today (3.12.07) has taken its own steps to combat climate change, with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd officially ratifying the Kyoto Protocol.
Under the United Nations guidelines Australia will become a full member of the Kyoto Protocol by March next year.
The Prime Minister said his government was committed to meeting its Kyoto Protocol obligations.
“Australia’s official declaration today that we will become a member of the Kyoto Protocol is a significant step forward in our country’s efforts to fight climate change domestically and with the international community,” he said.
The European Commission’s latest technological development is sure to increase Europe’s reputation as the leader in responses to climate change —
an example that Australia and the international community may be looking to follow.
POCKET ENVIRONMENTALISTS
The mobile technology is a diary on activities, that allows users to see the implications of their daily choices in terms of the three major greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.
This information is then entered into the application and calculations made of individual emissions.
Users can register to keep an online diary with mobGAS which records and stores their daily, weekly and yearly emissions.
This allows individuals to compare their emissions with data recorded on national and world averages as well as reflecting the user’s contribution to the Kyoto Protocol target.
MobGAS aims to be the catalyst to make consumers aware of the significant impact they can have on reducing emissions.
The technology is free to download within Europe and is compatible with over 140 mobile devices.
Reference:
Australian Labor Party, “Ratifying the Kyoto Protocol”, 3.12.07. http://www.alp.org.au/media/1207/mspm030.php,(3.12.07).
European Commission, “European Commission scientists launch first mobile application that uses your mobile phone to track your carbon footprint”, 30.11.07. http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1822&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en (3.12.07).
EC, mobGAS, “Know your contribution to climate change”, http://mobgas.jrc.ec.europa.eu/mobgas/app/MainPage.po (3.12.07)