PROBLEM —

Climate change is a legitimate concern. It poses serious threats to the environment, human health, and global stability. According to a Pew Research Center survey, a median of 54% across 40 nations say it is a very serious problem, and 85% say it is at least a somewhat serious problem. Scientists have reached a strong consensus that global warming is happening and is caused by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases (link, and link). The effects of climate change include rising temperatures, melting ice caps, sea level rise, extreme weather events, droughts, floods, wildfires, biodiversity loss, and disease outbreaks. It's not a good picture! 

SOLUTION —

We can all make a difference by taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. What can we do, you ask? Many small steps can add up to a big impact: using renewable energy sources, driving less or using public transportation, buying energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs, recycling and composting waste, planting trees and gardens, conserving water and electricity, eating less meat and more plant-based foods, and supporting policies and organizations that fight climate change.

Together, these actions can help save money, improve health, and create jobs—while protecting the planet.

TALL apps can also be useful tools for tracking and predicting climate change effects, when users opt-in to collecting and sharing certain types of data, such as their location, activity, health, consumption, and environmental exposure. By anonymizing, aggregating and analyzing this data, researchers can gain insights into how people are affected by—and respond to—climate change.

For example, TALL apps can help monitor and predict the spread of vector-borne diseases, the impact of air pollution on respiratory health, changes in water availability and quality, and the adaptation strategies of different communities.

TALL apps can also enable users to participate in citizen science projects and contribute to climate change modeling and forecasting—just by going about their daily business. The potential to provide feedback and incentives to users can help raise awareness and encourage behavior change towards more sustainable lifestyles. It's a win-win!