Introduction
With the environmental landscape across the MENA region currently in a state that requires key regulatory and sustainable attention, the implementation of environmental data governance directives has proven to be non-negotiable reality. On the other hand, the introduction of revolutionary advancements, such as blockchain technology, improved the methods and systems through which information can be stored and tracked to improve environmental protection and mitigation of the adverse effects of climate change.
However, the security afforded by blockchain technology has also prompted demands for transparency to ensure that the information being stored remains verifiable and credible. Is this the right move? This article explores the importance for environmental data governance and why blockchain transparency is a crucial move in growing technological innovation.
What is Environmental Data Governance?
Environmental Data Governance (EDG) is a system that establishes policies and structures for managing environmental information. This is vital to ensuring said information is reliable, secure and can be used for sustainable decision making, accountability and transparency in both government and private sector operations. EDGs can take on various aspects including:
Data Quality and Integrity
This ensures data on climate activities, biodiversity and environment change in the MENA Region are accurate and verifiable. It also creates a consistent track record for environmental reporting and policy tracking.
Accessibility and Transparency
This involves promoting public access to comprehensive information to boost accountability and transparency. It also ensures citizens across the region can get a practical understanding of the processes that go into environmental decision making and how governments arrive at the policies that shape how environmental activities are coordinated.
Data Sustainability
Integrating environmental considerations into data management systems is crucial to ensuring an increased focus on sustainable practices. This can be applied in how data is tracked and stored and also in the programming of innovative technologies to know what to monitor and identify in determining if environmental data governance guidelines are being followed.
Why is Blockchain transparency crucial in the MENA region?
With blockchain technology taking a more prominent role, transparency has risen to be a vital component of its implementation for the following reasons:
Fraud Prevention
Once information has been entered into the block chain, it cannot be edited. This makes tampering impossible and also prevents fraud or manipulation.
Improved Trust and Accountability
With stakeholders and investors having access to a distributed ledger, all concerned parties remain aware of the status of projects and initiatives without the need for intermediaries.
Faster Audits and Compliance
Auditors are no longer required to go through rigorous processes to verify information relating to funding and technical compliance. With all information readily available in secure data sets, audits can be completed within a shorter timeframe
Conclusion
Technological systems are being put in place across the MENA region to ensure ensure environmental sustainability can be implemented at the highest level. However, environmental data governance measures must be enacted to ensure that information remains accurate and verifiable at all times.
Blockchain transparency is also a crucial step towards ensuring that data remains credible, accessible and tamper proof across the region. With more technological breakthroughs and innovation catches up to plug environmental gaps, these measures will prove undeniably instrumental.
This article is written in promotion of the 7th Assellmu Scientific Conference titled “Environment Law in the Digital Age”