The new Blockchain digital technology has aroused special interest as a tool that can update climate change policy instruments, including monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems, Emissions Trading Systems (ETSs), value chains and carbon footprints. Blockchain allows the exchange of information through a cryptographic protocol whose users are constantly updated and verified.

 

To explore its potential benefits, the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) organized a “Blockchain Week” to examine how Blockchain can be applied in Mexico’s climate field. Three workshops were organized to build skills and analyze how the technology can be used in ETSs and transparency systems for climate finance and map progress towards climate mitigation and adaptation goals. The results of the workshops and interviews will lead to the development of a study about Blockchain’s potential for updating and improving climate policies in Mexico.

As part of the cooperation between the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH offices in Latin America, a webinar was organized to discuss the progress that different Latin American countries have made in applying Blockchain to climate change policies. The first of two webinars took place on Thursday, October 4 and was attended by 36 participants (see agenda). The second webinar is scheduled for November 2018.

 

Within the framework of the collaboration between GIZ’s Latin American offices, an introductory study on Blockchain and climate change will soon be published. In addition, three case studies are currently being conducted in Brazil, Costa Rica and Mexico:

  • In Brazil, the potential for Blockchain technology for fishing and livestock sector value chains is being analyzed, taking into account climate aspects.
  • The Costa Rica case study focuses on the potential of Blockchain to measure the carbon footprint in the coffee sector.
  • In Mexico, the potential for Blockchain technology is being analyzed for carbon markets and for MRV systems for climate mitigation and financing measures.

“Blockchain Week” was held from October 3 to 5, 2018 as part of the Preparation of an Emissions Trading System in Mexico project in collaboration with the Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance project, both implemented by GIZ on behalf of Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).

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