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"How Blockchain and the '3+5 Principles' are Revolutionizing Carbon Offsetting"
Understanding the '3+5 Principles' for Carbon Credits and How Blockchain Enhances Transparency
區塊鏈與「3+5 原則」如何革新碳補償機制:了解碳權的「3+5 原則」及區塊鏈如何提升透明度

 

Turing College/Technan/2024.09.12

 

Introduction/引言

    As companies around the world ramp up efforts to reduce their carbon footprints, carbon credits have become an essential tool for offsetting emissions. However, the carbon market is not without its challenges, including accusations of greenwashing and concerns over the quality and transparency of carbon credits. The "3+5 Principles" provide a framework for ensuring that carbon credits are legitimate and effective, while blockchain technology is emerging as a powerful solution to improve transparency, traceability, and accountability in carbon offsetting.

This guide will explore how the 3+5 Principles can help businesses avoid the pitfalls of poor-quality carbon credits and greenwashing, and how blockchain technology can further enhance the integrity of the carbon credit market.

 

    隨著全球企業加大減少碳足跡的努力，碳權已成為抵消排放的重要工具。然而，碳市場並非沒有挑戰，其中包括漂綠指控及碳權質量和透明度的問題。「3+5 原則」提供了一個框架來確保碳權的合法性和有效性，而區塊鏈技術則正在成為提升碳補償透明度、可追溯性和問責制的有力解決方案。

本文將探討如何通過「3+5 原則」幫助企業避免購買低質量碳權和漂綠風險，以及區塊鏈技術如何進一步提升碳權市場的誠信。

 

1. What Are Carbon Credits?什麼是碳權？

 

Carbon credits are tradable certificates that represent the reduction or removal of one metric ton of carbon dioxide (CO₂) or other greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. They are crucial for companies looking to offset their emissions and meet sustainability goals.

碳權是一種可交易的證書，代表大氣中減少或去除一公噸二氧化碳（CO₂）或其他溫室氣體。它們對於希望抵消排放並實現可持續發展目標的企業至關重要。

 

2. Why the Need for Quality Control?為何需要品質控制？

 

Recent controversies involving companies like Disney, Shell, and Verra have shown that poor-quality carbon credits can damage corporate reputations and even lead to legal challenges. To avoid these risks, companies must ensure the carbon credits they purchase meet stringent quality standards, such as the "3+5 Principles."

近期圍繞迪士尼、殼牌和 Verra 等公司的爭議表明，購買低質量碳權會損害企業聲譽，甚至導致法律挑戰。為了避免這些風險，企業必須確保所購買的碳權符合嚴格的質量標準，例如「3+5 原則」。

 

3. The 3-Able Principles: MRV (Measurable, Reportable, Verifiable)3-Able 原則：MRV（可量測、可報告、可驗證）

 

The 3-able principles are essential for ensuring the transparency and reliability of carbon credits:
3-able 原則是確保碳權透明度和可靠性的基石：

- Measurable: The reduction or removal of greenhouse gases must be quantifiable in a consistent and reliable manner.
- 可量測：減排或去除溫室氣體的行為必須可以以一致且可靠的方式進行量化。  

- Reportable: Data related to emissions reductions should be transparently reported and made available for public scrutiny.
- 可報告：減排相關數據應透明公開，供公眾檢視。  

- Verifiable: Independent third-party auditors must be able to verify that the carbon credits are legitimate and that the claimed emissions reductions are real.  
- 可驗證：必須由獨立的第三方審核員驗證碳權的真實性，確保聲稱的減排是真實的。

 

 4. The 5 Key Principles for Carbon Credit Quality碳權品質的 5 大關鍵原則

The following five principles help ensure that carbon credits provide real environmental benefits:
以下五個原則有助於確保碳權帶來真實的環境效益：

a) Additionality外加性

Carbon reduction projects must occur only because of the incentive provided by the carbon credit market. For example, energy-efficient measures that would have been implemented anyway do not qualify.
碳減排項目必須是因碳權市場的激勵而發生的。例如，政府規定的節能措施並不符合申請碳權的資格。

b) Conservativeness保守性

Carbon offset calculations should be made conservatively to avoid overestimating the impact of a project, ensuring that companies don’t claim more credits than are justified.
碳補償的計算應採取保守態度，避免過高估計項目影響，確保企業不會申請到超出實際減排量的碳權。

c) Permanence永久性

Carbon reductions must be long-lasting. Projects that temporarily sequester carbon, such as forestry projects, must ensure that carbon will not be released back into the atmosphere.
碳減排必須具有長期性。像植樹造林這類臨時性封存碳的項目，必須確保這些碳不會因火災或砍伐而釋放回大氣中。

d) Avoiding Double-Counting避免重複計算

Carbon credits must not be used more than once. Blockchain technology can ensure that each credit is unique and cannot be counted by multiple parties.
碳權必須是唯一的，不可被多方重複使用。區塊鏈技術可以確保每個碳權的唯一性，防止重複計算。

e) No Harm Principle避免對環境與社會造成傷害

Carbon reduction projects should not harm local communities or ecosystems. Companies should ensure that their projects have positive environmental and social impacts.
碳減排項目不應對當地社區或生態系統造成傷害。企業應確保其項目對環境和社會有正面影響。

 

表.3+5 原則整理

5. Blockchain Technology: Enhancing the Integrity of Carbon Offsetting區塊鏈技術：提升碳補償的誠信

Blockchain technology can greatly improve the carbon offsetting process by addressing some of the most pressing issues in the carbon market, such as transparency, double-counting, and verification challenges.
區塊鏈技術可以通過解決碳市場中最緊迫的問題，如透明度、重複計算和驗證挑戰，極大地改善碳補償過程。

a) Increased Transparency and Traceability提高透明度和可追溯性

Blockchain’s decentralized ledger ensures that all transactions are permanently recorded and accessible. Every carbon credit has a unique identifier, allowing for full traceability from issuance to retirement.
區塊鏈的去中心化帳本確保所有交易被永久記錄且公開可訪問。每一單位碳權都有唯一的標識符，可以從發行到註銷進行全程追溯。

Practical Application: Carbon credits are tokenized on the blockchain, making it easy to track their movement and verify their authenticity. Each credit’s history, including its origin and use, is transparent and immutable.
實際應用：碳權在區塊鏈上進行代幣化，使其更容易追蹤其移動並驗證其真實性。每單位碳權的歷史，包括來源和使用，都透明且不可更改。

b) Prevention of Double-Counting防止重複計算

 

With blockchain, double-counting becomes impossible because each carbon credit is uniquely identifiable and can only be used once. This ensures that the environmental impact of each credit is accurately represented.
利用區塊鏈，重複計算變得不可能，因為每一單位碳權都有唯一的識別符，只能使用一次。這確保了每一單位碳權的環境影響得以準確呈現。
Practical Application: Blockchain records each transaction and ensures that once a carbon credit is retired, it cannot be resold or reused by any party.
實際應用：區塊鏈記錄每一筆交易，確保一旦碳權註銷後，無法再轉售或重複使用。

c) Smart Contracts for Automation智能合約自動化

Smart contracts can automate the verification and issuance of carbon credits. These self-executing contracts can be set to trigger once predefined conditions—such as the achievement of specific emission reductions—are met.
智能合約可以自動化碳權的驗證和發行流程。這些自動執行的合約可以根據預定條件，如實現特定減排目標，自動執行。
Practical Application: When IoT devices detect that a project has achieved its emission reduction goals, smart contracts can automatically issue the appropriate number of carbon credits and log the transaction on the blockchain.
實際應用：當 IoT 設備偵測到項目已達到其減排目標時，智能合約可以自動發行相應數量的碳權，並將交易記錄在區塊鏈上。

 

d) Enhanced Verification and Monitoring加強驗證和監控

By integrating blockchain with real-time data from IoT devices and GIS satellite imagery, carbon reduction projects can be continuously monitored and verified. This ensures that the carbon sequestration or reduction is happening as claimed.
通過區塊鏈與物聯網（IoT）設備和GIS衛星圖像實時數據的結合，可以持續監控碳減排項目，確保碳封存或減排與聲稱相符。
Practical Application: Forests, wind farms, and other projects can be continuously monitored via blockchain-connected devices, ensuring that emission reductions are consistently maintained.
實際應用：利用區塊鏈連接的設備，持續監控森林、風力發電場等項目，確保碳減排一直在進行並維持。

e) Reduction of Fraud and Greenwashing減少欺詐和漂綠

 

Blockchain’s immutable ledger makes it difficult for companies to make fraudulent claims about their carbon offsets. The transparent record of transactions helps prevent the purchase of fake or low-quality carbon credits.
區塊鏈不可更改的帳本使企業難以對其碳補償做出虛假聲明。交易的透明記錄有助於防止購買假冒或低質量碳權。
Practical Application: Companies that purchase carbon credits can show consumers and regulators a clear, auditable record of their carbon offsetting efforts, reducing the risk of greenwashing accusations.
實際應用：購買碳權的企業可以向消費者和監管機構展示其碳補償行為的清晰、可審計的記錄，降低被指控漂綠的風險。

 

6. Case Study: The EnergyAustralia Controversy案例分析：EnergyAustralia 爭議

EnergyAustralia claimed to offer carbon-neutral energy by purchasing carbon credits, but it faced backlash from environmental groups for continuing to use fossil fuels. Blockchain could have helped provide transparency and accountability in this case, ensuring that consumers knew exactly how their carbon credits were being sourced and used.
EnergyAustralia 聲稱通過購買碳權提供碳中和的能源，但因繼續使用化石燃料而遭到環保組織的批評。區塊鏈可以在此案例中提供透明度和問責制，確保消費者知道碳權的來源和用途。

 

7. Practical Steps for Businesses to Avoid Greenwashing企業避免漂綠的實用步驟

 

By adopting the 3+5 Principles and leveraging blockchain technology, businesses can protect themselves from greenwashing accusations and ensure that their carbon offsetting efforts are genuine and effective.
通過採用「3+5 原則」並運用區塊鏈技術，企業可以保護自身免於漂綠指控，並確保其碳補償行為真實且有效。

- Conduct Thorough Due Diligence: Before purchasing carbon credits, evaluate the project's alignment with the 3+5 Principles.
- 進行充分的盡職調查：在購買碳權前，評估項目是否符合「3+5 原則」。

 
- Use Blockchain for Transparent Transactions: Implement blockchain to track and verify the authenticity of carbon credits.
- 使用區塊鏈進行透明交易：實施區塊鏈技術，追蹤並驗證碳權的真實性。

 
- Partner with Trusted Certification Bodies: Work with certification bodies like Verra or the Gold Standard that use blockchain for transparency.
- 與可信的認證機構合作：選擇如 Verra 或 Gold Standard 這些使用區塊鏈的認證機構合作。

 
- Educate Consumers on Your Efforts: Clearly communicate the specifics of your carbon offsetting program and the role of blockchain in ensuring its integrity.
- 向消費者宣傳您的努力：清楚地傳達您的碳補償計劃及區塊鏈如何保證其誠信。

 

8. The Future of Carbon Offsetting and Blockchain碳補償與區塊鏈的未來

 

As more companies and countries commit to achieving net-zero emissions, the demand for high-quality carbon credits will continue to grow. Blockchain technology offers a robust solution to many of the challenges facing the carbon offset market, ensuring that carbon credits are verifiable, transparent, and effective.
隨著更多企業和國家承諾實現淨零排放，高質量碳權的需求將持續增長。區塊鏈技術為解決碳補償市場中的許多挑戰提供了一個強大的解決方案，確保碳權的可驗證性、透明性和有效性。

Conclusion結論

 

The 3+5 Principles provide a solid foundation for ensuring the quality of carbon credits, while blockchain technology adds a layer of transparency and trust that can prevent greenwashing and fraud. Together, these tools can help businesses make real progress toward sustainability and combat climate change effectively. By adopting these principles and leveraging blockchain, companies can ensure their carbon offsetting efforts are both credible and impactful.
「3+5 原則」為確保碳權質量提供了堅實的基礎，而區塊鏈技術則為防止漂綠和欺詐增添了透明度和信任感。兩者結合可以幫助企業在可持續發展方面取得實質性進展，並有效應對氣候變遷。通過採用這些原則並利用區塊鏈，企業可以確保其碳補償行為既具有可信度又對環境產生實質性影響。這樣的結合能夠協助企業不僅達成自身的碳中和目標，還可以避免被指控漂綠或購買低質量碳權。最終，透過運用區塊鏈技術來增強碳市場的透明度與追溯性，企業可以提升其在碳交易市場中的信任度，並有效支持全球應對氣候變遷的行動。

 

Reference：

1. Australian Parents for Climate Action v. EnergyAustralia. (2021). Legal case regarding misleading carbon neutrality claims by EnergyAustralia. Available at: [Australian Parents for Climate Action](https://www.ap4ca.org).

 

2. The Guardian Investigation on Verra. (2023). “Verra's Rainforest Protection Project Overestimated Effectiveness by 94%”. The Guardian. Available at: [https://www.theguardian.com].

 

3. Cambridge University Study on Verra's REDD+ Program. (2023). “Critical Evaluation of Carbon Offsets from Rainforest Projects”. Cambridge University Press. 

 

4. Corporate Carbon Credit Controversies. (2022). “Multinational Companies’ Purchase of Low-Quality Carbon Credits”. Business Insider. Available at: [https://www.businessinsider.com].

 

5. Blockchain and Carbon Markets. (2023). ”How Blockchain Technology is Transforming Carbon Offsetting“. MIT Technology Review. Available at: (https://www.technologyreview.com).