Karbon Cure

The climate crisis is the biggest challenge of our lifetime, affecting all 8 billion people around the globe.According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), human activities have caused a significant rise in global temperatures. The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Earth's atmosphere has reached alarming levels, exceeding 415 parts per million (ppm) in 2021, the highest in millions of years.And yet, the governments of the world have not pledged enough action to keep global warming at 1.5 degrees, leaving an “emissions gap” that puts us on a pathway to dangerous levels of global warming.

In Kenya, the impact of climate change is evident. The country has experienced prolonged droughts, affecting agricultural productivity and leading to food shortages. According to the World Bank, Kenya is among the most vulnerable countries to climate change due to its dependence on rain-fed agriculture and the significant population relying on natural resources for their livelihoods.Despite increasing awareness of the environmental impact of carbon emissions, individuals often lack accessible tools and guidance to accurately calculate their carbon footprint and effectively offset it through meaningful actions such as participation in climate projects or funding initiatives. This lack of engagement hinders progress towards achieving global climate goals and exacerbates the threat of climate change.

Karbon Cure is a  mobile application designed to empower individuals to take meaningful action against climate change. It offers a comprehensive suite of features aimed at calculating, offsetting, and monitoring users' carbon footprint, while also providing rewards and incentives for sustainable behavior.At its core, Karbon Cure functions as a carbon footprint calculator, allowing users to input various lifestyle factors such as transportation, energy consumption, and dietary choices. Using complex algorithms, the app calculates the user's carbon emissions and provides personalized insights into areas where they can reduce their environmental impact.

One of the standout features of Karbon Cure is its tree-planting initiative. Users can choose from a selection of verified reforestation projects worldwide and contribute directly to offsetting their carbon footprint by planting trees. The app provides updates and notifications on the growth and health of these trees, allowing users to track their impact over time.Karbon Cure also incorporates gamification elements to keep users engaged and motivated. By monitoring their trees and keeping their information updated, users earn tokens that can be redeemed for discounts on eco-friendly products or used to support environmental causes. This incentivizes continued engagement and encourages sustainable behavior.

Technologically, Karbon Cure utilizes Flutter for its frontend development, ensuring a seamless and responsive user experience across both Android and iOS platforms. The app relies on Firebase for its backend infrastructure, providing scalability and reliability for user authentication, data storage, and real-time synchronization. Additionally, Karbon Cure integrates Google Pay for seamless payment transactions, Google Maps for showcasing project locations, and Firebase push notifications for timely updates and alerts.

The target population for Karbon Cure includes individuals who are environmentally conscious and seeking tangible ways to reduce their carbon footprint. This demographic encompasses people of all ages, backgrounds, and geographical locations who are concerned about climate change and its impacts on the planet. They may include eco-conscious consumers, students, professionals, and families who want to take proactive steps towards sustainability.

Currently, this population is underserved in terms of accessible and user-friendly tools for understanding and mitigating their carbon footprint. While there are various resources available online for calculating carbon emissions and supporting environmental causes, many of these solutions lack user-friendly interfaces, real-time feedback mechanisms, and incentives for sustained engagement. Additionally, there may be limited options for directly participating in impactful climate projects or monitoring the progress of their contributions.Karbon Cure addresses the needs of this target population by providing a comprehensive and user-friendly platform for calculating, offsetting, and monitoring carbon emissions. By offering a simple and intuitive carbon footprint calculator, users can easily understand their environmental impact and receive personalized recommendations for reducing emissions. The integration of verified tree-planting projects allows users to directly offset their carbon footprint and track the progress of their contributions over time.

Karbon Cure incentivizes continued engagement and sustainability through gamification elements and rewards. Users earn tokens for monitoring their trees and keeping their information updated, which can be redeemed for discounts on eco-friendly products or used to support environmental causes. This not only encourages users to actively participate in carbon offsetting efforts but also fosters a sense of community and collective action towards a greener future.Karbon Cure aims to directly and meaningfully improve the lives of environmentally conscious individuals by providing them with accessible tools, real-time feedback, and incentives for sustainable behavior. By addressing the underserved needs of this population, Karbon Cure empowers users to take meaningful action against climate change and make a positive impact on the planet.

Our team is uniquely positioned to design and deliver this solution to the target population due to our proximity to and representation of the communities we serve. As university students at DeKUT (Dedan Kimathi University of Technology), we have a deep understanding of the needs, interests, and concerns of our peers and the wider community. Being part of the same demographic as our target users, we are intimately familiar with their perspectives, preferences, and challenges related to environmental sustainability.

Throughout the design and implementation process of Karbon Cure, we have actively involved the DeKUT community to ensure that our solution resonates with their needs and priorities. During the prototype stage, we conducted extensive user testing with students and staff at our university, soliciting feedback and ideas for improvement. This direct engagement with the community guided the development of key features such as the ability to monitor personal projects via the app to offset carbon footprint. The idea emerged from discussions with users who expressed a desire for more personalized and impactful ways to contribute to climate action.

 We sought input from the community regarding the design and aesthetics of the app. Initially, we had settled for bright green and yellow as the main colors. However, based on feedback from users, particularly regarding accessibility and visual preferences, we made the decision to switch to a color scheme of dull green, black, and white. This adjustment demonstrates our commitment to incorporating community input into the design process and ensuring that Karbon Cure reflects the preferences and sensibilities of its users.Our team's close connection to the DeKUT community, coupled with our responsiveness to their feedback and ideas, underscores our ability to design and deliver a solution that is meaningful, relevant, and impactful for our target population. By placing community input at the forefront of our design and implementation approach, we ensure that Karbon Cure effectively addresses the needs and priorities of the communities it serves.

As of now, Karbon Cure is still in the prototype stage, and we have focused on building and testing key functionalities to ensure usability and effectiveness. Despite being in the early stages, we have made significant progress in developing the core features of the app and conducting initial user testing.During the development phase, we have built and tested the carbon footprint calculator, tree-planting offset feature, and monitoring system for tracking tree growth and health. These functionalities have undergone rigorous testing to ensure accuracy, reliability, and user-friendliness. Additionally, we have integrated features such as user authentication, data storage, and real-time synchronization using Firebase, as well as payment processing through Google Pay.

In terms of user testing, we have conducted sessions with a total of 256 individuals, including students and staff at DeKUT (Dedan Kimathi University of Technology). These sessions allowed us to gather valuable feedback on the app's usability, functionality, and overall user experience. Users were actively engaged in providing input on various aspects of the app, including interface design, feature preferences, and suggestions for improvement.Our accomplishments thus far include the development and testing of key features of Karbon Cure, as well as gathering valuable feedback from our initial user base. As we continue to iterate and improve upon our prototype, we look forward to serving a broader audience and making a meaningful impact in the fight against climate change.

Our goal is not just to create an app, but to create a global movement for climate action through personal level tree planting and participation in environment friendly projects.While Karbon Cure has a strong foundation, we anticipate facing some hurdles along the way. Solve's unique support system can be instrumental in overcoming these challenges and propelling our app's success.In the competitive landscape of climate action apps, user acquisition and differentiation are crucial. Standing out amidst growing competition requires a strategic approach to marketing and branding. Solve's mentorship program offers an opportunity to connect with marketing experts who can guide our user acquisition strategy. By leveraging this support, we can effectively target our audience, drive user engagement, and carve out our niche in the market.

Navigating international regulations presents another significant barrier as we aim to expand our reach to new regions. Compliance with local environmental regulations regarding tree planting and carbon offsetting is essential but complex. Solve's legal network can connect us with experts who possess the knowledge and experience to navigate these complexities. By ensuring our operations are compliant with regulatory frameworks, Solve can facilitate our expansion into new markets with confidence.

Financially, securing funding for verified tree planting projects is a major hurdle. Collaborating with established tree-planting NGOs often comes with hefty expenses. Solve's network offers the potential to connect us with donors or impact investors who share our mission and can fund these vital partnerships. This support would ensure a tangible impact on reforestation efforts, furthering our environmental goals.Solve's support system holds the potential to address critical barriers faced by Karbon Cure, thereby propelling our app's success. By connecting us with the right partners and providing resources, expertise, and mentorship, Solve enables us to overcome financial, technical, market, and legal obstacles. Ultimately, this support empowers us to advance our mission of combating climate change and creating a more sustainable future for all.

Karbon Cure approaches the problem of climate change in a significantly improved way by providing a comprehensive and user-friendly platform that empowers individuals to take meaningful action against environmental degradation. Unlike traditional carbon footprint calculators, which may offer limited functionality and lack user engagement, Karbon Cure goes beyond mere calculation by offering a range of features designed to inspire and incentivize sustainable behavior.

One key aspect of Karbon Cure's approach is its emphasis on direct impact through tree planting and carbon offsetting projects. By partnering with verified NGOs and offering users the opportunity to contribute to reforestation efforts,direct air capture projects,eco-friendly cooking methods projects,hydro power projects and deforestation prevention projects hence enables individuals to make tangible and measurable contributions to combating climate change. This approach not only helps offset carbon emissions but also promotes reforestation, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem restoration, leading to broader positive impacts on the environment.Karbon Cure leverages gamification elements and rewards to incentivize sustained engagement and behavior change. By earning tokens for monitoring tree growth and keeping their information updated, users are motivated to continue their environmental efforts over time. This gamified approach fosters a sense of community and collective action, encouraging users to become advocates for sustainability within their social circles.

 Karbon Cure has the potential to catalyze broader positive impacts from others in the climate action space. By demonstrating the effectiveness of its approach and showcasing the benefits of user-centric design and engagement strategies, Karbon Cure sets a precedent for other organizations and initiatives to follow. Its success could inspire similar platforms to adopt similar features and methodologies, leading to a more widespread adoption of sustainable practices and a shift towards a greener economy.Karbon Cure has the potential to change the market landscape by redefining the way individuals engage with climate action. By offering a comprehensive and engaging platform that combines carbon footprint calculation, tree planting initiatives,project support initiatives and rewards for sustainable behavior, Karbon Cure not only empowers individuals to make a difference but also catalyzes broader positive impacts and drives systemic change in the fight against climate change.

Karbon Cure's strategy to combat climate change operates on a simple and logical framework. First, we provide users with a user-friendly carbon footprint calculator, which raises awareness about individual carbon emissions and suggests personalized strategies for emission reduction. This immediate output helps users understand their environmental impact and empowers them to make informed choices towards sustainability. Karbon Cure offers users the opportunity to directly contribute to tree planting and carbon offsetting projects such as direct air capture projects,eco-friendly cooking methods projects,hydro power projects and deforestation prevention projects.. Through partnerships with verified NGOs, users can support eco-friendly project and carbon sequestration, thereby offsetting their carbon footprint. This tangible action not only mitigates environmental harm but also promotes ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation, addressing the root causes of climate change.

To sustain user engagement, Karbon Cure incorporates gamification elements and rewards. Users earn tokens for monitoring tree growth and maintaining their environmental efforts, fostering a sense of accomplishment and motivation. This incentivized engagement encourages users to continue their sustainability journey over the long term, driving meaningful change in behavior and habits.Karbon Cure expects to see several longer-term outcomes from these activities. Firstly, reduced carbon emissions result from users adopting sustainable lifestyle changes informed by the app's recommendations. Secondly, increased reforestation and biodiversity conservation contribute to the restoration and protection of natural ecosystems. Additionally, community engagement and advocacy fostered by the app lead to broader awareness and action on climate change within social circles.

Karbon Cure's logical framework connects its activities of awareness-raising, user engagement, and direct environmental action to immediate outputs such as increased awareness and engagement, which ultimately lead to longer-term outcomes such as emission reduction, reforestation, community engagement, and positive environmental impact. This framework is supported by existing research, data on carbon offsetting, and feedback from users during the app's development and testing phases.

For Karbon Cure, we have chosen to align with United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action. Specifically, we are targeting Target 13.2, which aims to integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.Our impact goals for Karbon Cure are aimed at creating meaningful and measurable changes in environmental sustainability and individual behavior. Karbon Cure seeks a reduction in carbon emissions by empowering users to make informed choices and adopt sustainable lifestyle changes. This primary goal is measured by tracking the total carbon emissions offset by users through tree planting and carbon offsetting projects. Specific indicators include the total number of trees planted, the amount of carbon dioxide sequestered, and the reduction in individual carbon footprints over time.

Karbon Cure aims to contribute to reforestation and biodiversity conservation through our tree planting initiatives. Progress towards this goal is measured by monitoring the growth and health of planted trees, as well as assessing the impact of reforestation efforts on local biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. Indicators include tree survival rates, biodiversity assessments, and habitat restoration metrics.Karbon Cure seeks to foster sustained user engagement with environmental issues and encourage positive behavior change towards sustainability. Progress towards this goal is measured through user activity metrics within the app, such as frequency of logins, duration of engagement, and completion of sustainability challenges or actions. Additionally, we collect feedback from users to assess changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to climate change and environmental stewardship.

Karbon Cure aims to raise awareness about climate change and inspire broader community action towards environmental conservation. Progress towards this goal is measured by assessing the reach and impact of our educational campaigns, community engagement initiatives, and user-generated content sharing. Indicators include social media engagement metrics, participation in community events or workshops, and the adoption of sustainable practices by community members.By tracking these impact goals and indicators, we are able to measure our progress towards creating transformational impact in environmental sustainability and individual behavior. These goals guide all aspects of our work, from product development and user engagement strategies to partnerships and outreach efforts, ensuring that Karbon Cure continues to drive positive change and contribute to a more sustainable future.

The core technology powering Karbon Cure is a combination of software development, data analysis, and cloud computing. At its heart, Karbon Cure utilizes a mobile application developed using the Flutter framework, allowing for cross-platform compatibility on both Android and iOS devices. This technology enables users to easily access and interact with the platform, enhancing user engagement and accessibility.

On the backend, Karbon Cure uses Firebase, a platform developed by Google, to handle user authentication, data storage, and real-time synchronization. Firebase provides a scalable and reliable infrastructure for managing user accounts, storing user-generated data, and ensuring seamless communication between the app and the server.In terms of data analysis, Karbon Cure employs complex algorithms to calculate users' carbon footprints based on their lifestyle choices and activities. These algorithms take into account various factors such as transportation habits, energy consumption, and dietary preferences to provide accurate and personalized carbon footprint assessments. Additionally, Karbon Cure utilizes data analytics to track user engagement, monitor tree growth, and measure the impact of carbon offsetting efforts over time.

Cloud computing plays a crucial role in powering Karbon Cure's infrastructure, providing the scalability and flexibility needed to accommodate a growing user base and handle large volumes of data. By leveraging Google Cloud Platform, Karbon Cure ensures reliable performance and seamless scalability, even during periods of high traffic or increased demand.Overall, the core technology behind Karbon Cure enables the platform to effectively address the challenges of climate change by providing users with a user-friendly interface, accurate carbon footprint calculations, and meaningful opportunities for environmental action. By harnessing the power of technology, Karbon Cure seeks to benefit both people and the planet by empowering individuals to take tangible steps towards a more sustainable future.

Karbon Cure seamlessly integrates additional functionalities to enhance user experience and effectiveness. One such integration is Google Pay, which facilitates subscription payments within the app. This integration streamlines the payment process for users, ensuring a convenient and secure method for supporting Karbon Cure's initiatives.Karbon Cure uses Google Maps to provide visual representations of the impact users are making on the environment. Users can view the locations of trees they have planted and the projects they support through their subscriptions. This integration not only enhances user engagement but also fosters transparency and accountability by allowing users to track the progress of their contributions in real-time.

Our solution team consists of two full-time staff members, comprising a front-end developer and a back-end developer. Additionally, we have two part-time team members, including one researcher and one UI/UX designer. Currently, we do not have any contractors or other workers involved in our team. This small but dedicated team collaborates closely to develop and improve Karbon Cure, ensuring that our solution meets the needs of our users and effectively addresses the challenges of climate change.

We have been actively working on Karbon Cure for a period of one and a half years. Throughout this time, our team has been dedicated to refining and enhancing the platform based on user feedback and ongoing research. We remain committed to continuously improving Karbon Cure to ensure its effectiveness in addressing climate change and empowering individuals to take meaningful action towards environmental sustainability.

In our commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, we extend the principles of openness and inclusivity to every aspect of Karbon Cure's development. This ethos is particularly evident in our research processes aimed at enhancing Karbon Cure's effectiveness. We actively invite reviews and testers from diverse backgrounds to participate in testing processes, welcoming input and feedback from anyone interested in improving Karbon Cure. 

As Karbon Cure continues to evolve and grow, we remain steadfast in upholding a culture of inclusiveness, regardless of individuals' backgrounds. This commitment will  extend to our hiring processes even in the future, where we will prioritize diversity and strive to create opportunities for individuals from all walks of life. Even as Karbon Cure is still in its early stages, we are dedicated to nurturing an environment where every team member feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives and talents towards our shared mission of combating climate change.

In our business model, users have the option to choose a subscription plan, either monthly or yearly, to purchase carbon offsets and reduce their yearly carbon footprint. A portion of the subscription fees is allocated towards the advancement and development of Karbon Cure, ensuring the continuous improvement of our platform and services. The remaining funds are directed towards supporting climate projects, such as tree planting initiatives and carbon offsetting projects, which contribute to broader environmental conservation efforts.This subscription-based model provides users with a convenient and accessible way to actively participate in mitigating climate change while also supporting the ongoing operation and growth of Karbon Cure. By choosing a subscription plan, users not only reduce their individual carbon footprint but also contribute to collective efforts to combat climate change on a larger scale. Through this business model, we aim to create a sustainable source of revenue that drives positive impact for both our users and the environment.

We also generate revenue through partnerships with environmental organizations and corporate sponsors who support our tree planting and carbon offsetting initiatives.Our business model aligns with our mission to provide value to our users by empowering them to make a positive impact on the environment while also generating revenue to sustain and grow our operations. By offering valuable services that meet the needs of our users and forging strategic partnerships, we aim to create a sustainable business model that drives positive change for both people and the planet.

Our strategy for achieving financial sustainability is multifaceted, incorporating a blend of revenue streams to support our ongoing operations and expansion. One primary source of income is our subscription-based model, where users can opt for monthly or yearly plans to purchase carbon offsets through Karbon Cure. A portion of these fees is earmarked for the advancement of our platform, while the remainder is directed towards funding climate projects. This model ensures a consistent revenue stream while enabling users to actively participate in mitigating climate change.

In addition to subscription revenue, we pursue partnerships and sponsorships with entities that share our environmental goals. These collaborations may involve sponsorships for specific initiatives, joint campaigns, or financial support for research and development. By leveraging the resources and networks of our partners, we amplify our impact and access additional funding opportunities to further our mission.

We actively seek grants and funding from governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, and philanthropic foundations that prioritize climate action and environmental conservation. These grants provide vital financial backing for our projects, research endeavors, and operational needs. Through successful grant applications, we secure essential resources to expand our reach and enhance our offerings.To date, our funding strategies have yielded positive results. We've received a significant boost from a $1000 grant from Mt. Kenya Innovation Hub, which has played a crucial role in supporting the development and implementation stages of Karbon Cure. This financial support has been instrumental in advancing our platform to its current stage, enabling us to refine our features, conduct user testing, and lay the groundwork for future growth.