Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin have become increasingly popular in recent years, but their environmental impact is often overlooked. Crypto assets can require significant electricity consumption, which can generate greenhouse gas emissions, as well as additional pollution, noise and other local impacts on communities that live near mining facilities. We asked a panel of 2000 Americans familiar with cryptocurrencies what impact Bitcoin has on the environment and climate change. A total of 58% said it had no environmental impact or that it had a mild impact.
It's true that cryptocurrency mining consumes a lot of energy, and this is especially true for Bitcoin and Ethereum, the two main cryptocurrencies. However, newer, greener cryptocurrencies are emerging that could eventually eclipse Bitcoin. Instead of relying on mining to validate transactions and operate the cryptographic network, these currencies grant authority based on the amount of cryptocurrency that the validator has bet or has agreed not to trade or sell. At the same time, U. S.
investors have begun to prioritize environmental, social and government (ESG) strategies to limit their exposure to assets that can harm the environment. All of these measures can reduce the energy cost of cryptocurrencies and crypto mining, but the problems of electronic waste and other environmental consequences must still be addressed for cryptocurrencies to be sustainable in the long term. The growing popularity of Bitcoin may make it impossible for the world to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, because the energy consumption of this cryptocurrency is enormous and its environmental implications are far-reaching. Globally, Bitcoin's energy consumption has serious implications for climate change and the achievement of the objectives of the Paris Agreement, since it translates into estimated emissions of 22 to 22.9 million metric tons of CO2 every year. In order for cryptocurrencies to achieve wider adoption, they must take environmental considerations into account. Companies like Greenidge Generation have tried to silence criticism about their environmental impact by announcing their intention to become carbon neutral.
However, this is not enough – we must all work together to ensure that cryptocurrencies are sustainable in the long term.
