Blockchain revolution in global environmental governance: Too good to be true?

Abstract

Is a blockchain revolution happening now or has its hype been seriously overstated? In the data-driven world, blockchain technology can potentially bring many benefits to people and organisations that suffer from a lack of information infrastructure or access to reliable integrated data. So, there is no surprise that leading actors of global environmental governance, including the United Nations and the World Bank, have started to support initiatives to develop blockchain platforms. However, the successful implementation of this technology and its ability to contribute to effective environmental policies depend on a range of factors that are often difficult to manage. In this paper, we aim to systematise theoretical and practical approaches to blockchain platforms in environmental management as well as to analyse existing barriers to this adoption. Based on our study, we concluded that the main obstacles preventing a blockchain revolution in global environmental governance are not connected to technological development, but rather to modern information cultures and worldviews.