Proposing a Foundational IoT Smart Planter Concept towards Reducing Carbon Footprint in Malaysia via Gamification

The rise in the concentration of greenhouse gases, predominantly carbon dioxide (CO
2
), has contributed to the rising rate of climate change and global warming. In 2021, global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions increased by 6% to 36.3 billion tonnes. Vertical planters and green roof farming are capable of contributing significantly to the transition of green, circular economy in urban areas through carbon sequestration. Previous literature has found that carbon sequestration varies across different geophysical categories and plant species. While green farming is a well-known efficient solution for mitigating climate change, achieving eventual carbon neutrality as a global community is even more challenging as it requires cooperative action not only by the government but also from citizens. In this viewpoint, the integration of internet of things (IoT) and gamification into urban farming is proposed to generate more dynamic user engagement outcomes by raising awareness on carbon footprint to stimulate behavioural changes. The plant's species, state of growth, surrounding environment parameters, and location can all be identified using IoT infrastructure and cloud computing. This system's initial prototype was built as a foundation for further development of the Gamified IoT Planter concept. This article details the study team's initial investigation into consumer behaviours that can help society achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and the state of the art in carbon footprint awareness.