AWorld in support of ActNow

This app gives you small but important ways that you can reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future. It’s game like interface is entertaining, but very limited. I hope it will be developed in the future. It’s also quite buggy. There are a few enhancements that would make me more likely to continue using it long term such as ways get additional seeds more frequently so I can continue reading and taking quizzes, links to resources outside the app where I can continue exploring the topics raised, and ways to see the actions taken at work in the world. Often stories mention people or companies taking action in the world, but they are not identified by name. I understand why this needs to be the case, but it would be nice to see more images of the people or products of their labor. The stand-alone quizzes (there are also quizzes after readings) are rather useless because they’re not really attached to opportunities to learn. Finally, it would be nice if routines and wellness were a bit more integrated.

I love this app, and it is a great way for me to track how I am reducing my carbon footprint, or the amount of water I’m wasting, etc. I think this app could be even better if there were more options for us to choose. I’d like if we could have the plant based meal to be able to be chosen three times since there is a possibility of the meals that can be plant based. It would also be great if along with a 5 min shower option, there is a skip a shower option that saves even more water. Even things like composting instead of throwing out or eating leftovers instead of cooking or buying a new meal reduces your footprint. I love this app and will continue to use it but I wish there were more options.

I’m already a well-informed person trying to radically decrease my consumptive impact on this world. This app has lots of nice features, but does it really get us to change? There are actions to take but all on roughly equal footing, despite differences in impact (eg recycling plastic vs eating plant-based meals), and missing many options or scaling up (Eg reducing use, reusing), let alone getting into the ways high consumption is systematically built into our lives, and therefore difficult to solve through individual actions such as turning out lights. There are several educational challenges, which often have helpful links, but again don’t push us very far. So it is intriguing, but I’d like to see it provide entry to greater action, more introspection toward larger commitments, and more emphasis on systemic change alongside individual change. I’m curious how it lands with people not yet familiar with the issues, SDGs etc.