Mohsen Saeedi

The book explores the complex correlation between blockchain technology and sustainability, demonstrating the potential of cutting-edge computational intelligence methods to address critical environmental and societal challenges. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the most recent developments in research, innovative approaches to design, and real-world implementations, establishing a strategic plan for the incorporation of blockchain technology into environmentally friendly solutions. Features: Focuses on the intersection of blockchain technology, computational intelligence, and sustainability. Covers international regulatory landscapes and ethical considerations. Emphasizes real-world applications such as supply chain management systems and smart energy networks. Offers concrete examples of how these technologies contribute to sustainability. Provides insight into how new technologies are transforming health informatics. This book is aimed at graduate students and researchers in computer engineering and environmental sustainability.

This chapter explores the intersection of blockchain technology and sustainability in the context of a rapidly growing global population and escalating environmental challenges. The global population reached eight billion in 2022, and despite a declining growth rate, it is projected to continue rising, driving increased consumption and exacerbating sustainability issues such as pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. In response to these challenges, the United Nations developed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, targeting various social, economic, and environmental objectives to be achieved by 2030. However, recent assessments indicate significant shortfalls in progress toward these goals. This chapter delves into the concept of sustainable development, emphasizing its multifaceted nature encompassing environmental, institutional, societal, and economic dimensions. It highlights the importance of long-term perspectives and individual actions in promoting sustainability. The potential of blockchain technology to support sustainable development is examined, focusing on its capabilities to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in various applications. By integrating blockchain with sustainability initiatives, this chapter aims to provide insights into innovative solutions that can address complex global challenges and support the achievement of the SDGs.

Within the context of social, environmental, and governance concerns, sustainability reporting is becoming a critical practice for organizations. In this chapter, the evolution, importance, and challenges of sustainability reporting are explored. The role of transparency and technological innovations such as blockchain in the enhancement of reliability of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures is discussed and deemphasized. This study outlines new frameworks and standards, such as the United Nations Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), that can help organizations in their reporting. Complexities involved across various industries and diverse stakeholders’ perspectives, particularly those of Indigenous communities, are highlighted. An Indigenous case study, Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project (TMX), is examined to explore and illustrate the potential for blockchain technology to address accountability and transparency challenges in sustainability reporting. The study’s findings reveal and suggest that incorporating Indigenous knowledge and leveraging blockchain technology can significantly improve the credibility and accuracy of sustainability reports. This fosters greater trust among the stakeholders and can contribute to effective environmental and social governance.

In aquatic environments, metals tend to sink into sedimentary beds, but under different redox conditions they might be released to the water column. Oxic and anoxic microcosm experiments were conducted using an automatic microcosm apparatus to investigate how redox potential (Eh) affects the release of rare earth elements (REEs) in an estuary sediment sample. Results indicated that REEs mobility increases in both oxic and anoxic conditions although the average amount of REEs mobilization was higher in oxic conditions than anoxic conditions. Lu and Sm were the most mobile elements while Ce showed the lowest amount of release. REEs release is influenced by a mix of controlling factors including dissolution of Fe-Mn oxyhydroxides, low pH condition, and increase in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) under anoxic condition. An increase in Eh caused a decreasing pH from 8.08 to 6.80 and increasing DOC from 18.93 to 425 mg/l which resulted in the release of REEs. Enrichment factors (EFs) revealed that Musa estuary is threatened with Ce, Dy, La, Nd, Pr, and Sm. The high ecotoxicology effects of soluble REEs calling for potential environmental risks in Musa estuary.