HSPVA clubs host CEO of carbon footprint tracking app Commons

Recently, HSPVA’s Sustainability club and APAA (Asian Pacific American Alliance) joined forces to host Sanchali Pal, CEO of the app Commons, which was created to help app users track their carbon footprint and make more sustainable choices going forward.

Previously, Sustainability club has undertaken projects such as collecting the school’s recycling, organizing an in-school thrift store to raise awareness about sustainable shopping, and hosting monthly meetings to discuss environmental issues. Some of APAA’s previous projects have been organizing supply drives for various causes and hosting events such as yoga day and the very popular Boba Sales.

Joining over Zoom from California, Sanchali talked to club members about experiences that inspired her to create Commons in the first place. Growing up in India and later spending time in communities in Ethiopia, Sanchali saw firsthand how the rest of the world’s decisions could affect the quality of life of other people.

Sanchali shared that she originally wanted to be an engineer and work to design products with functions like purifying undrinkable water. But when she realized how intertwined economics (more specifically, spending decisions and habits) were with climate change issues, she decided to shift her focus.

While attending Princeton University, Sanchali was able to lower the carbon emission and meat consumption of her dining hall, which further proved to her the importance of individual people’s choices, and the power they could have when implemented on a larger scale.

After graduating from Princeton and working for Tesla and other companies, Sanchali founded Commons in 2019 to help other people understand how their decisions (whether it be transportation, dietary, shopping, ect) contributed to Earth’s carbon footprint.

The app also includes practices for more sustainable living so that users are actually able to do something with the information shared with them. Sanchali also discussed some of the future goals of Commons, including partnering with businesses that app users could support in efforts to shop more sustainably, and offering monetary incentives.

Finally, Sanchali offered advice to any students hoping to pursue careers related to climate change, sharing examples of the many different professions of people she knew who worked in climate change.