Current Events Newsletter 📰#4
The fourth instalment of the Tech4Earth current events and insights across green emerging tech.
General Industry News 📝
DevvCon BKK Nov 2024
Rounding up the week at DevvCon for those that missed the various sustainability and public goods-focused side events:
Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA) Web3 Oscars Results:
Champions of change 1st place | Grand Social Impact Award: Ethic Hub
- “EthicHub bridges small farmers to direct financing, promoting sustainable farming, fair market access, and transformative solutions for rural communities while redefining blockchain's social impact.”
Champions of change 2nd place | Outstanding Social Innovation Award: Plastic Odyssey
- “Plastic Odyssey stands out with their innovative blockchain solution that transforms plastic waste into community resources, creating a sustainable cycle of environmental protection and community empowerment”
Champions of change 3rd place | Emerging Impact Award: Research Hub
- “ResearchHub revolutionizes scientific collaboration with a blockchain-powered platform that incentivizes open peer review, making science more accessible, efficient, and transparent.”
Funding the Commons BKK - My favourite key note speech’s
Bioregional Financing Facilities (ReFi DAO):
- ReFi DAO’s founder, Monty Bryant, gave an empassioned case for bioregional stewardship of ReFi efforts accross the globe. You can hear the case and read more on their blog/podcast here.
Designing Next Generation Digital Climate Infrastructure and creating Systematic Valuing of Nature (CarbonBase):
- CarbonBase founder Max Song delved into the topic to rethink about how we assign value to nature. He touched on the topic of assigning nature as a legal entity and how this can be complimented with Web3 technology. Although there isn’t any publicly available material on his keynote speach - here’s an article discussing nature as a legal entity for further exploration.
Other Industry News📝
MARA Goes Green with Wind-Powered Bitcoin Mining
News Bite:
Nasdaq-listed Bitcoin miner, MARA, has acquired a 114 MW wind farm in Texas, repurposing it to power a data center through its Advanced ASIC Retirement Initiative. The company will use last-generation ASICs with 100% renewable energy, reducing bitcoin production costs and curbing equipment waste, while reinforcing its commitment to environmental stewardship.
PowerDime and Chintai Tokenize Renewable Energy Markets
News Bite:
PowerDime is launching a blockchain-powered platform with Chintai to tokenize renewable energy contracts, turning virtual power purchase agreements into investment opportunities. Designed for institutional investors, the platform offers access to wind and solar projects, enabling sustainable financing while generating real financial returns.
Notable raises👀🚀
(Courtesy of Dealroom)
Circularise (Blockchain)
Circularise is the leading blockchain platform that provides digital product passports for end-to-end traceability and secure data exchange for industrial supply chains, with confidentiality protection as our core USP which empowers businesses to move towards a circular economy
Investors: Teijin
The Hague, Netherlands
Dec 2024: $48—73m
Sustainiam (Blockchain)
Be a climate impact maker, by investing in carbon certificates.
Investors: Orios Venture Partners, Rajesh Sawhney, Shilpa Shetty, Harsh Vardhan Bhagchandka, Vinit Bhansali
San Francisco, United States
Raised: $1.5m SEED, Dec 2024
Arkon Energy (Web3)
Enables excess renewable energy in bitcoin mining operations
Investors: Blue Sky Capital Management, Kestrel0x1, Nural Capital
Melbourne, Australia
Raised: $110m LATE VC, Dec 2024
Next Sense (AI)
Develops solar, sensor and coating technologies for energy-neutral buildings
Investors: ABP, ETF Partners, Edge Technologies, Timeless Investments, SHAPE Capital BV
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Valuation: $13—20m
Raised: €11.5m, Dec 2024
Political Insights 🏛️
COP29's Limited Progress on Industrial Emissions 🌍
Despite a $1 trillion decarbonization pipeline, COP29 concluded without significant commitments to reduce industrial emissions in sectors like steel and cement.
Meta's $10 Billion AI Data Center Raises Environmental Concerns 🏭
Meta plans to build a $10 billion AI data center in Louisiana, sparking environmental concerns over its reliance on fossil fuels and potential increases in local energy costs.
U.S. Department of Energy's AI Initiative to Integrate Renewable Energy ⚡
The U.S. Department of Energy launched the AI4IX program, investing $30 million to expedite the integration of solar and wind energy into the power grid using AI technology.
U.S. Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Study AI's Environmental Impact 🏛️
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced the Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2024, directing the EPA to assess AI's environmental footprint, including energy consumption and pollution.
New York State Evaluates Environmental Impact of Cryptocurrency Mining 🗽
New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation released a final scope for a Generic Environmental Impact Statement on cryptocurrency mining operations, focusing on proof-of-work methods and their environmental implications.
Start-up spotlight 🔦
5ire
5ire is a fifth-generation blockchain ecosystem designed to promote sustainability by aligning with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Company Focus:
Sustainable Blockchain Development: 5ire integrates sustainability into its blockchain infrastructure, encouraging practices that benefit both the economy and the environment.
For-Benefit Economic Model: The platform emphasizes a 'for-benefit' paradigm, rewarding entities that contribute positively to societal and environmental goals.
Core Offerings:
5ireChain Platform: An EVM-compatible, sustainability-oriented smart contract platform that facilitates the development of decentralized applications (dApps) with a focus on sustainable practices.
Proof-of-Benefit Consensus Mechanism: A unique consensus protocol that evaluates and rewards nodes based on their contributions to sustainability, ensuring that network operations align with environmental objectives.
Key Benefits:
Promotion of Sustainable Practices: By integrating sustainability into its core operations, 5ire encourages the adoption of eco-friendly practices within the blockchain ecosystem.
Alignment with Global Goals: 5ire's operations are designed to support the achievement of the UN's SDGs, contributing to global efforts in sustainability.
