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SUMMARY:Smart\, Commodified and Encoded: Blockchain Technology for Environ
 mental Sustainability and Nature Conservation - Reading discussion led by 
 Chris Sandbrook
DTSTART:20220222T130000Z
DTEND:20220222T140000Z
UID:TALK168845@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Fleur Nash
DESCRIPTION:We explore the implications of blockchain technology for conse
 rvation and environmental policy. Drawing on an analysis of 27 initiatives
 \, we examine their goals\, assumptions\, visions and workings. We find th
 at these initiatives do not yet form a coherent approach\, there is too mu
 ch variety in their environmental focus\, and the role of blockchain techn
 ology in achieving their goals. However\, they share a faith in environmen
 tal-commodity markets\, a penchant for surveillance and upward accountabil
 ity\, and lack a critical analysis of the main causes of environmental pro
 blems. Blockchain initiatives are forming a growing community of praxis an
 d deepen ongoing trends in neoliberal environmental governance\, character
 ised by the increased commodification and global accounting\, surveillance
  and marketisation of environmental goods\, services and outcomes. We sugg
 est these services and outcomes fail to challenge the actual root causes o
 f environmental degradation. At the same time\, they are not all necessari
 ly flawed by these characteristics. They can render information held by co
 mmunities financially valuable in ways those communities may find useful. 
 Future research should focus on exploring whether blockchain initiatives m
 ay at least translate in concrete environmental outcomes and contribute to
  the well-being of natural resource managers
LOCATION:Delivered online via Zoom
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