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This is really really cool. Congrats on the launch! We're working on something similar as our non-profit project [1] built on the integration system for our br

This is really really cool. Congrats on the launch! We're working on something similar as our non-profit project [1] built on the integration system for our browser. It will be a free service that lets you connect a few SaaS providers to start (Jira, Github, Gitlab, etc) and automatically plant trees (with some multiple). Stripe is also doing something similar at the payments level. [2] Two things: 1. These threads always go to a "trees are just virtue signaling" conversation. I think focusing on the trees misses the forrest. Passive allocation of $$ towards good causes through these systems will help teams get involved and associate it directly with their work. This sort of thing is good and feels good. We can focus on better allocation and give people options in the future. 2. There are millions of issues/tasks/sales/PRs/etc closed every day and all of them have a real monetary value for orgs. Im sure we can capture a real % of that. It also moves social responsibility out of closed departments to having everyone in teams involved and contributing frequently and effortlessly. Its exciting! P.S. I wouldn't normally share this sort of thing on another Show HN but I think we're probably 100% aligned in our goals of getting donations to projects that need it. If I can help in anyway or you'd like to get involved with any of this please email me parham@cloudsynth.com :) [1] https://cloudsynth.com/social-impact/trees https://cloudsynth.com/social-impact/trees [2] https://stripe.com/climate https://stripe.com/climate

IgorPartola 6y ago
Ok but your two arguments over how this isn’t just a feel good thing come down to (1) is ok that it’s a feel good thing and (2) it can be a popular feel good thing. How many net acres of forest can we gain and how much CO2 can we remove with this per year, based on your best projections? I am not saying it’s bad to do this. I would be happy to be a customer. But how do we know this does anything meaningful?
- parhamn 6y ago
  Key points are: this mechanism of collection can be much more effective for non-profits. And importantly once the automated passive payments are in place, it is easy to give users other options for what to do with the money (it doesn't have to be trees but its probably the most marketable start outside the HN community). The napkin math on trees has been done quite a bit here already. I'm on mobile but I would look at the Stripe Climate thread for some references.

IgorPartola 6y ago

Ok but your two arguments over how this isn’t just a feel good thing come down to (1) is ok that it’s a feel good thing and (2) it can be a popular feel good thing. How many net acres of forest can we gain and how much CO2 can we remove with this per year, based on your best projections? I am not saying it’s bad to do this. I would be happy to be a customer. But how do we know this does anything meaningful?

parhamn 6y ago
Key points are: this mechanism of collection can be much more effective for non-profits. And importantly once the automated passive payments are in place, it is easy to give users other options for what to do with the money (it doesn't have to be trees but its probably the most marketable start outside the HN community). The napkin math on trees has been done quite a bit here already. I'm on mobile but I would look at the Stripe Climate thread for some references.