PROOF OF ZERO IS mrv FOR CARBON FOOTPRINTS.

See a shiny overview deck here: https://bit.ly/proof-of-zero

Whilst there are hundreds of funded web3 projects working on MRV for carbon credits, there is a lack of attention to carbon debits or footprints.

Getting to Net Zero requires greener choices. Greener choices are impossible without comparable data between suppliers - without comparable carbon footprints/disclosures.

TL:DR for this round: issue the first audited, standards compliant carbon disclosure (a carbon footprint) on-chain for a company. Then, issue our currently private centralised database of thousands of disclosures alongside this, to create an explorer and open database of on-chain public company carbon disclosure data to drive transparency, accountability and consistency whilst empowering stakeholders with data they can trust to make more sustainable decisions.

Overview:

Our vision is to drive transparency, accountability, and consistency into carbon reporting, thereby eliminating greenwashing and enabling stakeholders to make (sustainable) decisions based on reliable data. To achieve this, we've outlined two initial missions for this round:

1. Issue the world's first audited, standard-compliant carbon disclosure on-chain.
2. Establish the world's first on-chain database for carbon and other disclosures, accessible through an Explorer.

By combining a robust carbon accounting system with the transparency of blockchain technology, we aim to revolutionise the way carbon disclosures are created, audited, and shared, ultimately promoting a more sustainable future.

Problem:

Every single journey to Net Zero starts with measuring an organisation’s current greenhouse gas emissions. Yet there is no agreed methodology or reference data to do this. The global standards (Greenhouse Gas Protocol) are neither of these and 20 years out of date. Each organisation (and carbon consultant) therefore uses their own methodology and data. Outcomes are utterly incomparable. The organisations that care most, are penalised for doing it properly as they look more energy intensive.

It results in many firms greenwashing. And individuals trying to do the right thing actually causing more damage.

Web3

The web3 community contains hundreds of projects working on MRV and trust in carbon credits. But before every carbon credit, comes a carbon debit - the measurement of that organisation’s carbon footprint and exactly how many carbon credits they would need.

It is important that we know the carbon credits someone purchased really exist, and had the appropriate impact. But for us to eliminate greenwashing, we also need to also have confidence that the number of carbon credits purchased was correct.

And that’s what Proof of Zero is here to do.

Disclosures

There are no open databases of carbon disclosures. And the carbon disclosures that are disclosed are spread across organisation websites, in different formats, with numbers derived from different methodologies, reference and input data. They are completely incomparable, making choosing greener partners impossible.

Mission One: Audited On-chain Carbon Disclosures

We are looking to issue the first standards compliant on-chain corporate carbon disclosure. We have parties lined up, and even well known auditors that are considering on-chain assurance. This would in effect be an on-chain asset, or token, each of a standardised format but with unique attributes that detailed the carbon footprint of the organisation issuing them, in a global standards-compliant format.

Mission Two: The Carbon Explorer

The Carbon Explorer is an open database of carbon disclosures and data, designed to make on-chain carbon disclosures easily accessible and readable. The platform will provide immediate value, as we already have thousands of disclosures to add to the database.

The Carbon Explorer will serve as an open-source alternative to current carbon disclosure databases, such as CDP and TCFD. It will focus on presenting quantitative data in a standardised, comparable format, enabling data-driven decision-making.

Round goals

We would be extremely grateful for any contributions and this has been a self-funded endeavour to date with a small grant also kindly received from Future Quest.

We would, however, perhaps be even more grateful to find collaborators and supporters wanting to help make this reality together.

If you run or work at a web3 project and care for or are responsible for carbon, climate or ESG and would like to help web3 push the standards for carbon footprinting forwards, please get in touch: j@proofofzero.com.

We are particularly interested in organisations that would want to issue their existing carbon footprint as an on-chain disclosure, or even create one from scratch.