December 2019
Premise
Five years after the 2015 Paris Climate Accord, emission targets appear unachievable; transportation remains a leading polluter, and private cars are still the main mode of transportation. Despite a good public transportation network in Berlin, benchmarks on emissions and air quality are not met; threatening not just the environment but also residents' health.
Blockchain has the ability to foster cross-organisational sharing between competing companies, as it does not require established trust; can these technologies make public transportation more efficient and the most attractive options for commuters?
Industry Perspective
For this report we looked at climate change, the 2015 Paris Agreement, and subsequent initiatives. To understand how transportation in a large urban area contributes to climate change and air quality, we analysed the city of Berlin and its public transportation.
While Berlin is known for its reliable public transit, cars remain popular and diesel still largely fuels the buses and trains, driving down the air quality in the city.
Improving the energy efficiency and usability of the public transit systems are key to reducing harmful emissions in Berlin.
Blockchain Angle
Blockchain is open and decentralised by nature – meaning that trust between members does not have to be established in advance, and a network rather than a single entity takes responsibility for the operations. These characteristics could enable multiple organisations to use a single protocol for their services without putting their data and investment in the hands of a single point of failure.
A more 'public' transportation could also allow users to access services directly, cutting out the need for backend agreements or financial intermediaries. Utilising these characteristics and more, we paint a picture of a public transportation more competitive with private car ownership.
Access our report to learn more about how blockchain can help enable convenient and efficient transportation options.
