Atlanta Student Creates Microsoft-Backed Carbon Tracking Platform
An Atlanta high school student named Rhythm Bazari has created an innovative carbon tracking and reporting platform called i-Pledge. This project was developed in collaboration with Microsoft, which is listed as the technology partner for the Global Sustainability Summit (GSS) 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
i-Pledge allows individuals to pledge lifestyle changes across 11 habit categories, log their actions, and see aggregate emissions reductions calculated against UNFCCC-recommended methodology. The platform is part of the 'I Pledge: Reduce Your Own Carbon Footprint' global campaign run by the Indian Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD-CMI). Microsoft has projected that the campaign could reach 5 million+ users.
Bazari, who is also the founder of Minorities in STEM (MIS), a free youth-led nonprofit expanding access to science, technology, engineering, and math education worldwide, built i-Pledge from scratch with one collaborator. MIS operates 40+ chapters run entirely by student volunteers and has reached 300,000+ people across 50+ countries.