ClimateTrade News

ClimateTrade News

Hemp Carbon Removal Project
Climate Impact

ClimateTrade launches the Hemp Carbon Removal project

After having conducted a comprehensive assessment for several carbon sink solutions, ClimateTrade has finally decided that HEMP is the best innovated Nature-based Solutions (NbS). In partnership with Made In Hemp, from the technical side, Woodna Maderas Naturales, from the operational side, and for the analysis and test we are working with CETIM (Materials Technology Center), together, we have undertaken the first trial during 2021 in Galicia, Spain. ClimateTrade has opted for the Hemp Carbon Removals because we consider that they are a great opportunity to return wealth to rural areas and strengthen the social fabric, by being able to generate economic and ecological benefits through the agriculture of this new industry that regenerates the soil and can efficiently replace the materials derived from oil, cement and plastics among others. Thanks to biomaterials derived from hemp cultivation, we are also committed to carbon in setting (Carbon in setting is an innovative mechanism to reduce emissions while boosting business value) of our customers’ Scope 3, reducing net greenhouse gas emissions both through carbon capture and avoided emissions from products such as ‘hempcrete’ (hemp cement) for the construction industry or ‘hemp packing’ (hemp packaging) for the sales industry. In this first test plot, installed on the farm of the company Woodna Maderas Naturales in the municipality of Arzúa (Galicia), is characterized by having a humid temperate Atlantic climate not being necessary irrigation, we have planted two varieties of hemp registered in the European Union catalog with high potential for biomass production, with the aim of measuring carbon in total biomass. The test has been structured in strips where the varieties alternate with unplanted areas and with a total area close to half a hectare. This pilot test has been done following an experimental design that allows comparing hemp varieties in different environments and agroecological models. Following standard measurement methodologies, we manage to generate reference data that serve to monitor in the long term the ecological and climatic benefits generated by hemp. During the growth period, from late May to early September, we have conduced monthly monitoring of the plantation, by measuring number of plants, high and thickness in a designed area, and finally, before harvest, we have collected representative samples to measure carbon in total biomass. Currently waiting to get analysis results from CETIM.

September 28, 2021
the planet we love melia
ClimateTrade News

Meliá Hotels International on its path to beat climate change

In commemoration of the World Environment Day, Meliá Hotels International is launching  “The planet we love”,  in alliance with ClimateTrade. Both companies have worked hand in hand in order to put together a project that seeks to involve the hotel’s guests and clients in the fight against climate change.  It represents a fundamental step of the Meliá chain commitment to the environment and the transition to a low-carbon economy. What is “The Planet we love”? Customers of the MeliáRewards loyalty program will be able to exchange points for carbon credits certified by the United Nations in support of  selected projects in developing countries aiming at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These projects are: Waste for Energy Project, in Brazil, for the reduction of methane emissions into the atmosphere and its transformation into non-polluting domestic energy for thousands of homes at risk. Oaxaca Wind Project, endorsed by AENOR and developed by Acciona, aims to promote new water and sustainable energy infrastructures to benefit more than 700,000 homes in Mexico, avoiding the emission of more than 670,000 tons of CO2, equivalent to the photosynthesis carried out by 33 million trees. “The planet demands commitments from both companies and consumers to move towards a low-carbon economy, the major challenge that we need to face in the 21st century”; said Gabriel Escarrer, Executive Vice President and CEO of Meliá Hotels International. The involvement of customers in its environmental commitments through this project is a new step forward in the integration of ESG criteria (Environmental, Social and Governance) in the Meliá Hotels International value chain, which has led the company to aim to reduce emissions by 51% before 2035 (Scope 1 and 2). “Offsetting the carbon footprint of travel requires that a positive impact is generated. The use of blockchain technology allows us to achieve a greater impact and also certify the destination of the funds. Compensating our travel is a game changer for the industry, as we neutralise the CO2 emissions caused by travel”,  stated our CEO, Francisco Benedito. Thanks to the alliance with Climatetrade, Meliá Hotels International becomes the first hotel company in the world to offer loyalty program members the possibility of getting directly involved in offsetting their carbon footprint by purchasing carbon credits assigned to certified and guaranteed projects.

June 4, 2021
algorand climatetrade
Blockchain Technology

The greenest blockchain technology: is it possible?

Algorand pledges to be the greenest blockchain and be carbon neutral thanks to the alliance with ClimateTrade. The Algorand network was designed from the ground up to minimally impact the environment. Because its consensus is not based on energy-intensive proof-of-work and requires minimal computational power or electricity, Algorand has been a leader in minimizing the environmental impact of blockchain technology. “We understand that the mechanics of measuring the environmental impact of a global, decentralized and widely used blockchain are nuanced and complex. That’s why we are teaming up with ClimateTrade to continue and double-down on our eco-conscious efforts.” said Silvio Micali, Founder of Algorand.  “Clean energy and addressing climate change are priorities for the United Nations, global organizations and governments alike. Algorand has a very low carbon footprint to begin with, and we are inspired by the leadership role the organization is taking to ensure the next generation of blockchain adoption is environmentally friendly,” said Francisco Benedito, CEO of ClimateTrade. How does Algorand offset its Carbon Footprint with Climatetrade? To achieve a carbon-negative network, Algorand and ClimateTrade will implement a sustainability oracle which will notarize Algorand’s carbon footprint on-chain for each epoch (a set amount of blocks). With its advanced smart contracts, Algorand will then lock the equivalent amount of carbon credit as an ASA (Algorand Standard Asset) into a green treasury so that its protocol keeps running as carbon-negative. Through this partnership, Algorand is able to leverage several projects of our marketplace that help to offset the low footprint of their network: The Southern Cardamom REDD+ project initiated by Wildlife Rescue and Wildlife Works, which protects the rainforest by avoiding more than 3 million tons of carbon emissions annually. The Vichada Gold Standard Climate Project which is aimed at reforestation in the Orinoco Department in Colombia. The Oaxaca Wind Project by Acciona which covers the electricity demand of 700,000 Mexican homes, avoiding the emission of 670,000 tons of CO2. The Sumatra Merang Peatland Project by ForestCO2 which aims to protect and restore the peatland ecosystem in Indonesia. With this alliance we not only work to achieve the carbon neutrality of Algorand but also to have a positive impact on the environment, which is how every innovative blockchain ecosystem should be in the future.

June 4, 2021
Untitled design (4)
ClimateTrade News

ClimateTrade is now a member of the largest Blockchain Association in the US

ClimateTrade has been chosen as a member for its commitment to responsibly building and investing in the next generation of digital services. It is a great pleasure to be part of the Blockchain Association, the largest association in the U.S. within the blockchain industry. We look forward to working closely with the Association and its members to help create a carbon negative network and contribute to the sustainable growth of this sector. The Blockchain Association is the alliance of  blockchain leaders advocating for the innovation and collaboration necessary to support American leadership of this industry. Its goal is to improve the public policy environment so that blockchain networks can thrive in the United States. The members of the association range from blockchain networks projects, trading platforms that allow users to exchange cryptocurrencies, and early stage investors that support the entire ecosystem. All of its associates have a substantial U.S. presence and a track record of regulatory compliance.  

June 1, 2021
Microalgae
Climate Change News

Meet the trees of the future: BioUrban’s microalgae reactors purify the air in large cities

BioUrban is a pioneering technology that absorbs carbon from the atmosphere and mitigates global warming. These 4-meter-high carbon sinks are capable of cleaning the air that 2,790 people breathe every day, or 40 tons of CO2 per year. Developed by Mexican company BiomiTech, the artificial tree is designed to be placed in spaces in the center of large cities that have high levels of pollution such as small parks, schools and hospitals. Within its structure, it contains microalgae reactors that absorb pollutant particles to feed on them and, after a natural process of photosynthesis, convert them into oxygen and biomass.  The first of these artifacts has been successfully installed in Mexico, specifically, in the capital of the Mexican state of Puebla. There, BioUrban has reduced pollution levels in one of the busiest areas of the city near the university. Now, ClimateTrade has partnered with BiomiTech to bring the technology to Spain. “The most polluting areas of large cities, structurally do not allow to hold a large number of trees in their spaces, and thanks to this new technology, CO2 capture is maximized and air quality is improved. Clearly, the installation of a BioUrban device is complementary to the development of other initiatives such as urban forests, ”says Francisco Benedito, CEO of ClimateTrade. “Cities like Madrid, Barcelona or Valencia suffer from high levels of pollution. With this initiative we intend to maximize the capture of CO2 and improve the quality of the air in our cities,” he adds. This technology is a nature-based solution to climate change that will allow the creation of a new circular bioeconomy capable of producing fuels from the pollution generated by our daily activities.

October 2, 2020

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