Research Finds Bitcoin Mining Equates to 0.10% of Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions

By Bitcoin.com - 1 tau ki muri - Wā Pānui: 3 meneti

Research Finds Bitcoin Mining Equates to 0.10% of Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions

According to a recent report published by the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), bitcoin mining worldwide accounts for around 0.10% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or 48.35 million tons of carbon dioxide per annum. Moreover, CCAF’s report details that “Bitcoin’s environmental footprint is more nuanced and complex” and because of complexity issues it “underscores the need for independent data.”

Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance Study: ‘Bitcoin Network Produces 48.35 Million Tons of CO2 per Annum’

I te Rātū, i whakaputaina e te Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) he hou pūrongo called “A deep dive into Bitcoin’s environmental impact,” which was written by the CCAF project lead Alexander Neumueller. The report highlights how bitcoin’s increasing popularity has put a spotlight on “environmental issues associated with the production of Bitcoin. "

CCAF’s study claims that the Bitcoin network produces 48.35 million tons of carbon dioxide per annum. The metric equates to roughly 0.10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and Neumueller says it’s about “14.1% lower than the estimated GHG emissions in 2021.”

Neumueller’s research further details that 37.6% of the energy leveraged by bitcoin (BTC) ka ahu mai nga kaikeri mai i nga momo kaha toiwhiu. Ko te "whakatau tata pai" a CCAF mo te 0.10% o nga tukunga hau kati kati o te ao he rite ki te nui o te kaha e whakamahia ana e Nepal, te Central African Republic ranei.

Bitcoin mining energy represents a touch less than half of the 100.4 million tons of carbon dioxide gold mining uses per year. Neumueller believes that the GHG emissions in 2022 were lower than in 2021 because of a “substantial decrease in mining profitability.”

Ko te korero a CCAF ko te hekenga pea i te wa o te neke mai i nga miihini keri iti ake ki nga miihini whakatipuranga pai ake. E ai ki a Neumueller ko te whakapae a CCAF kua “whakapumautia e taunakitanga pakiwaitara of Bitcoin miners.”

E toru nga koki e pa ana ki nga kaikeri: Te hinga BTC price, increasing hashrate & operating costs. Rev per hash is close to the '20 lows, and energy costs are rising, ASICs more efficient though. This year might separate the wheat from the chaff, consolidation ahead? pic.twitter.com/WRqbTD8raG

— Alexander Neumüller (@alexneumueller) June 16, 2022

In addition to changing out old hardware for newer and more efficient bitcoin miners, CCAF details that when China’s hashrate declined, the crypto asset’s “electricity mix became more diverse.” Neumueller and CCAF explain that data suggests the use of sustainable energy has declined in recent times.

Starting in 2021, data shows electricity mix fluctuations are now “visibly less” volatile. “Since it is not yet possible to comment on how the emission intensity changed from 2021 to 2022, as only January data is currently available, Bitcoin’s average emission intensity in 2020 (491.24 gCO2e/kWh) was compared to that of 2021 (531.81 gCO2e/kWh), suggesting that the sustainability of the electricity mix has deteriorated,” Neumueller notes.

The CCAF report surmises that the bitcoin mining industry is ever-changing and the CCAF research and tools continue to be adjusted. With real-world data available researchers are able to look at the situation with “greater granularity.”

The CCAF project lead ends the study by mentioning that “interesting concepts and developments are already emerging around bitcoin mining.” These include concepts like mitigating hau mura, whakaora wera ururua, ka tono tono whakautu tono.

“Time will tell if these are merely novel ideas that fail to deliver on their promise, or if they will become a more integral part of the Bitcoin mining industry in the future,” Neumueller’s report concludes.

He aha o whakaaro mo te mea hou bitcoin mining report published by the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance? Let us know what you think about this subject in the comments section below.

Kuputuhi taketake: Bitcoin.com