Blockchain technology could address persistent problems in environmental governance, according to a commentary by Guillaume Chapron published in Nature. Chapron argues the distributed ledger system—best known as the foundation of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin—could make land ownership more secure, supply chains more traceable, conservation payments more reliable, and corruption harder to conceal.
Unlike conventional databases, a blockchain records transactions in blocks that are synchronized across a distributed ledger. Each block must be ratified by more than one party and is tied to the previous block, making the record difficult to alter without consent from all network participants. When integrated with smart contracts, the system can also cut out middlemen.
Four Areas Where Blockchain Could Help
Chapron details four applications. First, by making ownership concrete: because blockchains cannot be altered or manipulated without network-wide consent, they could prevent corrupt governments or companies from unfairly seizing assets. Benben in Accra, Ghana, is already performing this task, along with Georgia and Honduras.
Second, by using blockchain's traceability: combined with the internet of things, the efficiency, waste, and emissions of individual commodities and entire supply chains could be securely logged. This would enable a reward structure for sustainability by ensuring figures cannot be manipulated or misrepresented.
Third, by providing reliable payments: blockchains do not require bank accounts, benefiting people in countries lacking that infrastructure. Money intended as a reward for conservation or as charity could be released automatically to the correct parties upon meeting environmental targets, rather than disappearing through bureaucratic labyrinths. The technology could also allow direct energy trading without middlemen's conversions or evaluations.
Fourth, by making the corrupt accountable: votes could be registered on blockchains, making electoral manipulation extremely difficult, while evidence and deals could not be tampered with.
The commentary notes that blockchain adoption extends beyond environmental governance. Musician Imogen Heap plans to use it to ensure recording artists get fairer deals, stating, "Blockchain is the catalyst for change in the industry." Toyota plans to use it to gather information about driverless cars from vehicle owners, fleet managers, and manufacturers to expedite development, and Walmart is using it to identify contaminated food sources. Tunisia is putting its currency on the blockchain, and Japan is accepting transactions using it at 260,000 stores by this summer, according to the commentary.
Chapron argues blockchain can work alongside companies advocating sustainable development, governmental improvement, and individual empowerment—freeing people from complicated contracts, bullying by those in power, and the lack of accountability that often stems from the complexity of the digital age.
Editorial Notes