The World Economic Forum (WEF) has recently published a white paper that explains how blockchains can provide the infrastructure required to combat climate change “at speed and scale.”
We've just published a World Economic Forum @wef whitepaper detailing blockchain technology's valuable role in the global effort to fight climate change.
Thanks @ToucanProtocol @BL4SG_ and more than 60 ReFi organizations that contributed to this research!https://t.co/RUwb9Z5Ipy
— Climate Collective (@clim8collective) April 25, 2023
The white paper classifies blockchain’s value to the climate action community into four categories. To begin with, blockchains can “strengthen trust and ambition” in climate negotiations.
In addition to enhancing market transparency and credibility, it can also increase the flow of funds to project developers. The World Economic Forum stated that digitalization “democratizes access” to climate action.
Brynly Llyr, the director of blockchain and digital assets at the Crypto Impact and Sustainability Accelerator (CISA) of the World Economic Forum, stated that it is crucial to consider and investigate emerging technologies as tools to combat climate change. Llyr elucidated that:
“Global climate infrastructure, tools, and coordination technologies can all help us keep pace with our changing planetary ecosystem. This is where blockchain and shared infrastructure technologies can be helpful.”
Due to the potential of blockchain, the white paper also emphasized that industry leaders concur on the need for “constructive regulation” that supports responsive digital climate innovation.
Dana Gibber, the CEO of the blockchain-based climate initiative Flowcarbon, stated that policymakers must consider all blockchain applications, not just the most prominent ones. “This transcends cryptocurrencies and encompasses everything that can be built on blockchain,” said Gibber.
In the meantime, the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase is also fighting for greater regulatory clarity in the digital asset space in the United States.
The crypto platform filed a lawsuit on April 25 to compel the Securities and Exchange Commission to act on its rulemaking petition, which has been outstanding since July 2017.
In addition, the exchange has launched a nonfungible token campaign advocating for more rational crypto policies.