Blockchain has become a revolutionary force in today's quickly changing technology landscape, transforming everything from finance to supply chain management. But what about its ability to address climate change, one of the most critical issues of our time? How can the fight against global warming be aided by a decentralized and secure system like blockchain?
Let’s break it down!
Blockchain functions on a decentralized network of computers known as nodes, unlike traditional systems where a central authority controls and verifies data. It is very hard for any single party to corrupt or control the data because these nodes cooperate to store and validate data.
The idea of blocks and chains is the foundation of blockchain technology. A chain of blocks is formed when a new block is introduced and linked to the preceding block, each comprising a set of transactions or data. Imagine it as a database where data is kept in blocks that can be precisely replicated across different machines. A block's distinctive fingerprint, known as a hash, is immediately changed upon any attempt to modify or tamper with the data contained therein, alerting the network to possible manipulation.
This blockchain's cryptographic basis, which focuses on hashing and digital signatures, protects the accuracy and legitimacy of the data it stores. Each block has its own unique hash, which functions as a kind of digital fingerprint. If the data contained in a block were to change, the hash would also change. The blockchain network's users also have access to cryptographic keys to generate and validate digital signatures, further boosting security and trust.
While blockchain has already proven its value in areas such as financial transactions, supply chain management, healthcare and voting systems, its potential in the realm of climate tech is just beginning to be explored.
What is the potential of blockchain in climate tech?
The decentralized nature of blockchain can provide new avenues for tackling climate change, such as carbon footprint tracking, renewable energy integration and fostering climate finance and impact investing by tokenizing assets and using blockchain-based platforms. Because transparency, immutability and peer-to-peer networking are its core features, the technology offers these innovative solutions and empowers individuals and organizations to impact the environment positively.
The realm of blockchain technology in climate tech holds intriguing possibilities for exploration, with numerous uncharted territories yet to be discovered. As we face the urgent challenges of climate change, blockchain technology holds promise in creating strong decentralized marketplaces, supporting the shift to clean energy, and empowering carbon markets to flourish.
1) Renewable energy trading and peer-to-peer energy networks
Renewable energy trading and peer-to-peer energy networks are revolutionizing how we buy and sell electricity. Blockchain technology is crucial in enabling this transformation. By leveraging blockchain-based platforms, individuals and organizations can engage in direct peer-to-peer energy trading, bypassing intermediaries and traditional energy markets. This decentralization empowers local energy markets, encourages the adoption of renewable energy sources and fosters community collaboration.
In the traditional energy market, big players and centralized systems have dominated. However, peer-to-peer energy trading is changing the game. Instead of relying on Balance Responsible Parties (BRPs) to manage the balance between energy demand and supply, individuals and businesses now have the opportunity to trade energy directly with each other. This eliminates the need for intermediaries and opens up new possibilities for optimizing energy choices and accessing financial benefits.
Imagine a scenario where you generate excess solar power on your rooftop and can sell it directly to your neighbors through a peer-to-peer trading platform. Moreover, peer-to-peer trading promotes the integration of renewable energy, enhances energy security and reduces costs for both consumers and producers.
Power to the communities
There are ample examples demonstrating the potential of peer-to-peer energy trading. Let’s go over a few:
- The Brooklyn Microgrid project and the Power Ledger platform have successfully facilitated direct energy trading among community members, driving renewable energy adoption and reducing electricity prices by up to 40%.
- ENTRNCE is another example of a peer-to-peer energy trading platform introduced in 2017 and currently handles transactions for over 10,000 peers daily. Platforms like ENTRNCE are enabling individuals and businesses to participate in direct energy trading, unlocking the benefits of decentralized renewable energy markets.
- SCHOONSCHIP is a floating neighborhood in Amsterdam that demonstrates perfectly how a community can collaborate in creating a sustainable ecosystem in which they share many resources. Energy is among those shared resources and is produced by 516 solar panels and 60 thermal panels. They have also introduced the ‘Jouliette’ – a virtual currency tied to the amount of sustainably generated and exchanged electricity measured in kilowatt-hours, giving the community an easy way to manage and share their locally produced energy.
With blockchain technology powering peer-to-peer energy networks, we can create a future where communities have greater control over their energy choices, hopefully leading to a greater preference for renewable energy as electricity becomes more affordable. This decentralized approach offers potential benefits to the energy market, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future.
2) Enhancing the reliability and quality of carbon credits
More and more companies and individuals voluntarily compensate for the emissions they generate through carbon credits they purchase on the ‘voluntary carbon market’ (VCM). However, the quality of carbon offsets can often not be verified and is generally quite poor. Research from the Guardian, for example, concluded that more than 90% of offsets sold have no verifiable impact. Still, carbon accounting and emissions tracking are critical components in the fight against climate change and blockchain technology is changing these processes within the VCMs. Blockchain offers significant advantages that can transform how we account for and reduce carbon emissions.
For example, Veridium uses blockchain technology to create transparent and trusted carbon offset solutions. By leveraging tokenization and smart contracts, Veridium ensures the traceability and authenticity of carbon credits. The immutable record of transactions on a blockchain increases transparency and builds trust in the voluntary carbon market. These advancements in supply chain traceability and product certification contribute to the global effort to combat climate change and promote sustainable practices.
Building trust and security with KlimaDAO
Blockchain technology offers a crucial advantage in carbon credit systems by providing traceability and verifiability. Unlike traditional methods, blockchain records every carbon credit transaction securely and permanently on a decentralized ledger. This creates a transparent chain of custody for each credit, allowing anyone to track its history from its origin through every transfer. This level of transparency ensures that carbon credits represent genuine emissions reductions, preventing fraud and promoting trust in the market. By leveraging blockchain for carbon credits, we can enhance the credibility of emissions reduction efforts and encourage broader participation in combating climate change.
At the heart of blockchain's potential are smart contracts, which are self-executing agreements with predefined conditions. Our leading example, KlimaDAO, harnesses these smart contracts to revolutionize carbon offsetting. The contracts facilitate the automatic execution of carbon credit transactions, guided by specific criteria. By doing so, smart contracts streamline the carbon accounting process, removing the need for intermediaries and reducing costs. This automation ensures greater accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility, making it easier for businesses and individuals to participate in offsetting their carbon emissions.
Through blockchain's ability to tokenize assets, KlimaDAO also transforms carbon credits into digital tokens. This tokenization subdivides the carbon credits, enabling fractional ownership. This means that individuals and organizations can purchase smaller portions of carbon credits, making the practice of carbon offsetting more inclusive and accessible to a wider audience. By broadening participation, the demand for carbon credits increases, encouraging more environmental projects and enhancing their overall quality.
Enter the Klima Infinity Proof of Carbon Offset (PoCO) program, an initiative where KlimaDAO pioneers blockchain technology for companies seeking to offset their emissions. PoCO empowers users with distinct badges, providing a transparent display of their carbon offset efforts and support for climate projects. The badges connect customers to verifiable data, fostering trust in the offsetting process. Businesses gain a sustainability edge, as they can now automate climate actions and meet the growing demand for climate-conscious practices.
The PoCO program offers three badge types, each catering to diverse carbon offsetting efforts: Carbon Neutral, Climate Positive, and Climate Partner. These badges enhance credibility in the market, showcasing a commitment to environmental responsibility and leadership in the fight against climate change.
3) How blockchain promotes eco-transparency in the supply chain
Blockchain technology enhances supply chain traceability and facilitates sustainable product certification. An illustrative example is Eon, a pioneering tech startup at the forefront of enabling brands to go beyond traditional product tracking, using digital IDs to create a more sustainable and efficient ecosystem. Eon's innovative approach revolves around incorporating digital IDs into products, providing brands unprecedented visibility and control throughout the product lifecycle, even beyond the point of sale. This empowers brands to maintain future revenue potential and access valuable data, all while enhancing traceability and fostering a circular economy.
Eon's solution leverages an end-to-end API-first product data management layer, enabling item-level data capture, transformation, validation, and broadcasting. By creating a comprehensive Digital ID profile, Eon integrates data from various systems and partners, ensuring compliance with standards, policies, and new business models. Blockchain technology plays a significant role in Eon's solution, recording every lifecycle event securely through GS1 EPCIS event tracking and customizable metadata schemas. This empowers brands with actionable insights, meeting policy requirements while extending product capabilities even after sales. Eon's ecosystem, with over 40 partners, including blockchain services, opens up new revenue streams within circular business models. Moreover, real-time environmental impact reports enable accurate calculations of a product's environmental footprint, empowering brands to make informed decisions and foster sustainability by reducing product circulation.
Enhancing traceability and verfication
Public blockchains are readable, writable and auditable, allowing any third party to view and audit transactions. This transparency promotes accountability and helps market stakeholders fully understand the information recorded on the blockchain. Now, you could apply this to supply chains worldwide, but also to insurance policies. An interesting example of how blockchain opens traceability and auditing on every level is a case study by the Climate Ledger Initiative (CLI) done in Kenya with their Climate Risk Insurance. Etherisc, with support from the CLI, developed a decentralized insurance platform on Ethereum for ACRE Africa's BIMA PIMA index insurance. This blockchain-based solution offers fair and transparent crop insurance policies indexed to local weather. Thanks to satellite data triggers, payments are swift and processed through M-Pesa. The aim is to provide sustainable climate change mitigation for farmers in Kenya and other African countries.
Overall, blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize supply chain traceability and enable sustainable product certification. By utilizing blockchain's transparency, immutability and traceability features, companies like Eon drive positive change and motivate stakeholders to adopt eco-friendly practices. With blockchain, we can create a more sustainable future by empowering consumers to make informed choices and promoting responsible production and consumption.
What are the downsides of blockchain?
While blockchain technology holds potential for climate-related initiatives, addressing concerns and risks associated with its implementation is essential. One key concern is the energy consumption and scalability of different blockchain networks. Proof of Work (PoW) and Proof of Space (PoS) blockchains, such as Bitcoin and Chia, can be highly energy and resource-intensive, resulting in significant carbon emissions. Their lack of scalability limits their ability to provide meaningful solutions at scale. On the other hand, Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchains, like Gnosis Chain, Polygon and Polkadot, have lower carbon emissions and are more energy-efficient per transaction.
Regulatory challenges and privacy considerations are also important factors to address when implementing blockchain in climate initiatives. While blockchain offers transparency and efficiency, navigating regulatory frameworks and ensuring data privacy can present challenges.
Reshaping climate tech with blockchain
Adopting blockchain technology in climate tech brings a new era of transparency, security and efficiency. By leveraging the inherent characteristics of blockchain, we can establish a trusted and immutable record of environmental data. This enables accurate measurement and verification of carbon emissions and ensures that businesses and individuals are held accountable for their impact on the planet.
Furthermore, blockchain technology offers a powerful incentive mechanism for sustainable practices. Through tokenization and digital currencies, we can create economic models that reward environmentally friendly behaviors. This paves the way for a future where sustainability is not just a moral imperative but a financially rewarding endeavor.Blockchain technology has shown promise in influencing the landscape of climate tech and climate change. It offers the potential to facilitate climate action, encourage sustainable practices, and contribute to global climate goals. Through features like transparency, security, efficiency and incentivization, blockchain can foster collaboration and spur innovation in this domain.
