On December 14, Earth.Org had a conversation with NFT specialist Jon O’Sullivan on impact NFTs and his work with Project Ark, an innovative blockchain-powered conservation platform that auctions NFT artworks to directly fund wildlife and environmental conservation efforts around the world. In this fireside chat, we discussed how NFTs can be environmentally considerate and even climate positive, the sustainable development and environmental projects he is currently working on, and the future of NFT.
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Jon spoke with Earth.Org about several topics, including:
- Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are more than just a JPEG, but rather a digital contract. For Jon and Project Ark, an NFT artwork is a vehicle to diversify the income stream for impact projects around the world, and bring with it a community that is passionate around an issue – for instance, endangered species conservation.
- The environmental impacts of NFTs and its cost-benefit analysis.
- How NFTs can be environmentally considerate and even carbon negative using methods including carbon offsetting. Though Jon acknowledges the debates surrounding carbon offsetting – critics including Greta Thunberg argues that it is a form of greenwashing – but he believes it is naive to think that offsetting does not help. Offsetting projects such as a biodigester or a solar lamp can not only have positive impacts on emissions, but with people’s lives as well.
- NFTs will have a big role to play in future for fundraising for NGOs, especially in light of COVID-19 where organisations have struggled to host fundraisers. NFTs could alleviate organisations’ worries on where the next funding is coming form.
While not everyone has the capability of owning an NFT, Jon believes that the artworks and movement will help people reflect their role in the natural world, educate and inspire the smallest change. His goal is to create a “cascading effect of people who are connected, engaged, motivated, and trying to change things in whatever capacity they can”.
You can check out the full length video of Earth.Org ‘s conversation with Jon O’Sullivan below:
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