Blockchain Technology Can Save The Planet — Greener CEO Claudio Olimpio

Climate scientists routinely point to the 2’C climate threshold as a way to amp up the call for a drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, which continue to threaten the earth’s climate system.

According to Greener’s CEO Claudio Olimpio, blockchain technology has the potential to bring about carbon offset and create harmony between nature and human activities.  To this end, he co-founded Greener in 2023 as a comprehensive solution designed to help businesses contribute to the ESG agenda through the tokenisation of their green assets, emissions calculations and trading.

Olimpio, it’s great to sit down for a discussion about Greener’s vision to save the planet. I would like to start with you. Can you tell us about yourself?

It's a great pleasure to speak with you. With a degree in advertising and a post-graduate degree in communication, I have dedicated over two decades to the dynamic field of marketing. For the past five years, I have proudly served as the COO of Integer\OutPromo, a key member of the Omnicom Group and the commercial arm of TBWA\Worldwide.

In this influential role, I have spearheaded the development and implementation of strategies that drive growth and enhance operational efficiency. Beyond my accomplishments in marketing and advertising, my passion lies in the realm of blockchain technology. Since 2017, I have actively engaged with blockchain, and in 2021, I partnered with a forward-thinking startup focused on blockchain-based solutions and businesses called DAX Assets. Notably, I am thrilled to be a partner in the GREENER project, a cutting-edge platform that utilizes blockchain technology to promote the ESG agenda and environmental assets.

My commitment to ESG principles, coupled with my expertise in blockchain, drives my pursuit of sustainable and impactful solutions. I am devoted to leveraging emerging technologies and fostering collaborations that empower organizations to address pressing environmental challenges and safeguard our planet's biodiversity.

What is your route to blockchain?

My trajectory in blockchain started in 2016 when I became an enthusiast, researcher, and investor in this field. Since then, I have closely followed the development and application of this technology in various sectors, including the environmental sector. In 2021, I founded a startup that works with blockchain solutions together with a group of partners.

We developed several projects until we connected with a large fund that invests in forest conservation areas and joined them because they understood that our application brings transparency and governance to such an important issue for our planet, biodiversity conservation through forest preservation, with all records made on the blockchain.

How can blockchain technology save the planet?

Blockchain technology has the potential to contribute significantly to the preservation of the planet. In other words, blockchain technology can save the planet.

By using this technology, it is possible to create transparent, trustworthy, and immutable systems to track and verify actions that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable practices. Blockchain can facilitate the accurate accounting and recording of transactions related to climate change mitigation, allowing technology to play an important role in greenhouse gas control and sustainability promotion, contributing to the protection of the planet.

We have several examples of good practices to which blockchain technology can be applied. These are transparent and immutable record-keeping, emissions traceability, carbon offsetting, and data sharing. Blockchain provides a decentralized, transparent, and immutable record of all transactions and events related to greenhouse gas emissions. This means that emission reduction projects and offset transactions can be reliably recorded, avoiding fraud and manipulation.

Through the use of smart contracts and asset tokenization, blockchain allows for precise and transparent tracing of greenhouse gas emissions throughout the production and supply chain. This helps identify emission sources, understand the impact of different sectors, and promote greater environmental accountability.

Blockchain can facilitate decentralized and efficient carbon offsetting. By issuing verifiable digital carbon credits, companies and individuals can offset their emissions by acquiring and retiring these credits on the blockchain via the Greener platform. This enables accurate accounting and a transparent offsetting process.

Blockchain can facilitate collaboration and data sharing among different stakeholders, such as companies, governments, non-governmental organizations, and individuals. By providing a secure and trustworthy environment for information sharing, blockchain can promote global collaboration in implementing sustainable actions and monitoring emissions.

How does Greener help companies to offset their carbon emissions?

GREENER offers a transparent and trustworthy platform to promote sustainable practices. By providing traceability, transparency, and economic incentives, blockchain technology facilitates access to assets that encourage the adoption of measures that contribute to the protection of the planet through biodiversity conservation in one of the most important regions. Through our process and platform, our clients have access to all the information present from the beginning to the end of the project.

What can you tell us about the founding of Greener?

The Greener platform was created to provide the global market with a transparent and reliable solution for forest conservation processes in the Amazon region. By utilizing blockchain technology, Greener aims to provide traceability and governance for forest preservation projects, allowing companies and investors to have reliable information about the environmental impact of these projects.

By using smart contracts and verifiable tokens, the Greener platform enables tracking and verification of conservation actions throughout the supply chain, from the origin of carbon credits to their offsetting. This provides transparency and reliability in transactions, helping to combat fraud and manipulation.

Furthermore, Greener seeks to promote collaboration among different stakeholders such as companies, governments, and non-governmental organizations to drive joint actions for the conservation of the Amazon. The platform provides a secure environment for data and information sharing, facilitating collaboration and monitoring of conservation initiatives.

Through the combination of advanced technology, governance, and transparency, Greener aims to contribute to the protection of the Amazon and the fight against deforestation, enabling companies and investors to support sustainable projects and promote the preservation of this crucial region for the planet.

What in your view is the biggest obstacle to achieving a global sustainable action to save the planet? How can Greener actualise this vision?

In my view, the biggest obstacle to achieving global sustainable action to save the planet is the lack of international cooperation and coordination. The climate crisis and biodiversity loss are global problems that require coordinated actions at the international level to achieve significant results.

Mitigating CO2 emissions requires reducing greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors, such as energy, transportation, agriculture, and industry. However, many countries have divergent economic interests and different capacities to implement sustainable policies and technologies. Additionally, mitigation efforts often require significant investments and structural changes in the economy, which can be politically challenging.

As for biodiversity preservation, it is necessary to protect vulnerable ecosystems, combat habitat loss, control illegal hunting and trade of species, and promote sustainable agricultural and fishing practices. Again, these actions require collaborative efforts among countries, as biodiversity knows no borders.

Regarding the use of blockchain technology for transparent actions, it can play an important role in ensuring traceability and accountability in sustainable initiatives. Blockchain is a distributed and immutable ledger that can be used to track transactions and ensure transparency in various areas.

However, it's important to note that the use of blockchain alone is not a solution. It should be combined with other policy measures, regulations, and awareness-building to achieve effective results in CO2 mitigation and biodiversity preservation. The United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goal (UN) is an action plan for people, the planet, and prosperity, seeking to strengthen universal peace with more freedom.

How does Regenerative Finance interplay with Greener?

Regenerative Finance (RE-FI) is intrinsically related to Greener's approach. Through robust governance processes, tokenization of green assets, and the promotion of investments in sustainable projects, Greener promotes the efficient allocation of financial resources for environmental regeneration. By encouraging investment in sustainable practices and technologies, Greener contributes to the growth of Regenerative Finance, which seeks to promote a more balanced and environmentally conscious economy.

Is there a regulatory framework that applies to Greener?

Regarding the regulatory framework, Greener operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Given the constantly evolving nature of the industry, the company is attentive to regulatory changes and seeks to adapt to the guidelines established by relevant authorities. We follow the standards and guidelines of the United Nations, work closely with regulatory authorities and relevant institutions to ensure that our activities comply with current norms, and that our customers can rely on a secure and regulated platform.

Any parting words?

We believe that blockchain technology can play a significant role in environmental protection and sustainability. We strive to provide innovative solutions that help companies offset their carbon emissions with governance, transparency, and reliable adoption of sustainable practices. Through partnerships and collaborations with various sectors of society, Greener seeks to drive global sustainable actions and contribute to the building of a greener and more sustainable future for all.