“How can I reduce my carbon footprint…?”

This is one of the most common questions searched on Google after arising awareness, strikes and crisis around the globe. From stop driving to zero waste life, most are challenging to systematically create consistent behavioural change in our daily life.

Taking the opportunity today and everyday to celebrate Mother Earth for the continuous sustenance of all the diverse human beings and all the beautiful creatures.

Today, marks the 49th annual Earth Day — a global event where millions of people come together to celebrate, voice their concerns and take action where environmental issues is in the spotlight.

It is so beautiful to see all the sparked movement and campaigns across the industries and communities. From NASA hashtag campaign #PictureEarth to Greta Thunberg continuous environmental activism to more than 25 Hollywood artist featuring “EARTH” song to Google Doodle story on the landing page.

So, what is next?!…

Without going to far, Climate change is warming Canada at a rate twice as fast as the global average. (Source: straight news). The earth is currently experiencing alarming rate of temperature increase, if we do not ACT NOW to reduce our emission as advised by Paris Agreement, that is so we can stay below a two-degree warming target by 2100. The climate change impact after the tipping point will be irreversible, we will enter into a loop of catastrophic chain reaction that will have hostile future for the billions of humans, animals and nature.

Actually this is not the real problem, I think; the real problem is that we are not yet able to comprehend the depth of the problem itself. Since decades researchers, scientist and media have been sharing the reports that are results of climate change such as higher rates of burning forest in BC, hurricanes and floods are new normal to frontline communities, species extinction is 1000–10,000 times faster, thanks to human KIND activity.

As humans, we have innate and honest intention to create a positive change both personal reason and common good. But if you remembered, how many times you had mega plan for new year hype and a lot of time it is hard to keep up. We set high standards goals mostly based on external motivation, and “guess what” we do not have any another new year in two month. So, relating to our topic, turning vegan or vegetarian or zero waste person out of sudden is challenging plus demotivating when it is not achieved.

Why I chose food? Let brainstorm together… we live in 21st century, going back to “Avator life” style is not option for most of us. Stopping to drive, turning off electricity, avoiding using plastics and list can go on with all things we can change. The first question I would have, for example, “how much difference will that take make? Why do I “only” have to this?”. Those are natural response when we truly want to see results more than sacrifice. That is fair!

Food production industry accounts more than quarter of global warming; and only livestock production accounts for about 14%, which is more toxic than all cars, trains, plane and ships combined. Yes, it is curial to reduce our usage of fossil fuel but if mega meat industries are not held accountable from policy makers as well, our hard work is counterbalanced by the ever-increasing meat production. Did you know that three meat companies — JBS, Cargill and Tyson — are estimated to have emitted more greenhouse gases last year than all of France and nearly as much as some of the biggest oil companies like Exxon, BP and Shell?

In 2014, JBS predicted global meat consumption would hit 105 pounds per person by 2030, great news for the beef business. By contrast, Greenpeace estimates global per-capita meat consumption actually has to fall to 35 pounds per person by 2050 to meet goals set by the Paris Climate Agreement.

Did that start to turn you off! GOOD. Now we kind of understand that reducing our meat consumption is as important. China in 2016 had taken initiative and introduced meat dietary restriction to reduce meat by 50%. Their research shows that by 2030, this would reduce 1-billion greenhouse gas emission. Thus, this shows that meat reduction is a concrete part of the solution.

How can I help You?… Moving to Canada in 2017 and discovering deeper connection and communication with mother earth at Stanley Park, Vancouver, I knew I could do something about this. Food production, our meat product intake, was where we are trying to tackle the problem. Using design thinking to understand the hopes and pains of user is how we approached the problem. Providing feature and services that address there need and assist them with consistent 1% behavioural change.

We believe in change is created, not by thousands of people cutting their meat perfectly, but millions and millions trying to reduce effectively their meat intake. #GreenCommunities_withGreenThinkers

We understand the pain points and limitation that comes with changing our choices. As the economic, social and political system is structured in a way that do not optimize sustainable business and choices. We do not have time to have sustainable beef and livestock production; we need to take charge of the situation.

We would love to hear from your experience and learn how to best serve you through our application. Share your thoughts with us through filling this questionnaire, and we will get back to you once we have the app ready. You can also sign up your email to be one of our early beta users.

We are on the most interesting and inspiring phase of human history, with tight window to change the course of humanity future. Our goal is to align with the 2020 vision of the greener Vancouver city. By the end, this is not to make things so fancy or complicated. We are just trying to address global issue by changing the dialogue of conversation. Instead of (only) blaming and putting finger on government and developed countries, how about I change myself as well. And imagine if good number of us are working towards the same goal. Imagine millions! That would create a change.