"Each bitcoin transaction generates carbon emissions roughly equivalent to driving a gasoline-powered car between 1,600 and 2,600 kilometres"
Each word in the first 6 words, and especially the first 3 words, is going to be the subject of massive debate in coming years, and possibly an excuse to try to ban / nerf bitcoin.
Snark isn't enough, bitcoin folks should learn the ground truths and learn to fight with words.
From perplexity ai... I disagree with the following...
Bitcoin mining has several significant environmental impacts, primarily related to energy consumption and associated pollutants. The main environmental pollutants from Bitcoin mining include:
Bitcoin mining is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2):
Bitcoin mining emitted over 85.89 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent (MTCO2E) from 2020 to 2021[1][3].
This is comparable to the greenhouse gas emissions of entire countries like Singapore or Belarus[2].
The emissions from Bitcoin mining alone could be sufficient to push global warming beyond the Paris Agreement's goal of keeping temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius[3].
Bitcoin mining can indirectly contribute to water pollution:
In some areas, Bitcoin mining relies on natural gas plants that may contaminate local water sources[1].
The water footprint of Bitcoin mining from 2020 to 2021 was about 1.65 cubic kilometers, equivalent to the volume needed to fill over 660,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools[4].
While not a chemical pollutant, noise from Bitcoin mining operations is a significant environmental concern:
In some areas, such as Georgia and North Carolina, noise pollution from mining operations has been reported to severely impact residents' quality of life[1].
The environmental impact of Bitcoin mining is substantial and multifaceted, affecting air quality, water resources, land use, and contributing to the global climate crisis. These impacts vary by country depending on the energy sources used, but the overall environmental footprint of Bitcoin mining remains a significant concern for environmentalists and policymakers.
AI and HPC has a higher carbon footprint because it taxes energy grids. AI/HPC doesn't use any stranded energy?
Here is venice.ai...
The article 'The Large Environmental Consequences of Bitcoin Mining' published on the LSE Business Review discusses the growing concerns about the environmental impact of Bitcoin mining. The study highlights the substantial energy demands of Bitcoin mining and its contribution to rising carbon emissions. According to the article, the energy consumption of Bitcoin mining is estimated to be around 75 TWh per year, which is comparable to the energy consumption of entire countries. Furthermore, the article mentions the increasing debate about the environmental sustainability of Bitcoin mining and the need for more efficient and eco-friendly mining practices. If you're interested in learning more about Bitcoin mining, you can refer to the Investopedia article 'What Is Bitcoin Mining? How to Get Started' or the Coinbase guide 'Crypto basics - What is mining?' which provide a comprehensive overview of the mining process and its role in the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Air Pollutants
Water Pollution
Electronic Waste
Noise Pollution