If transparency is the first step towards major change then Carbon Monitoring For Action (CARMA) is a major step forward.

According to the CARMA website, “CARMA reveals the carbon emissions of more than 50,000 power plants and 4,000 power companies in every country on Earth.”

I checked out the CARMA website myself today and found it to be pleasant on the eyes and chock full of information on carbon emitting power plants. If nothing else it is worthwhile to check your area and see what power plants are in the region.

The CARMA database contains information on generating plants worldwide and makes good use of color coding to show the different levels of carbon emissions for plants.

Dirty

Clean

There is also information on the companies that own the plants in question. In addition, CARMA is providing access to raw data files containing information from their database via file downloads or an Application Programming Interface (API).

While some may use this data as an opportunity to scream, “Gotcha!” at large power companies, the real value of this data lies in the fact that it can make the industrialists, politicians and the general public much more aware of the situation at hand.