Information and communications technologies for carbon sinks from economics and engineering perspectives

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how ICT applications from economic and engineering perspectives can enhance carbon sink solutions, highlighting recent technological improvements and identifying challenges and future opportunities for scaling these solutions.

Contribution

It offers a dual perspective analysis of ICT in carbon sinks, integrating economic and engineering insights, and identifies key challenges and future directions.

Findings

Blockchain improves transaction speed by 40% in carbon trading.

AI reduces operational costs by 15% in sequestration projects.

Data interoperability and environmental costs remain significant challenges.

Abstract

Climate change has intensified the urgency of effective carbon sink solutions, yet the integration of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) in these systems remains fragmented despite its transformative potential. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of ICT applications in carbon sink projects from both economic and engineering perspectives, a dual lens approach rarely explored in the existing literature. In carbon trading, blockchain has improved transaction speed by 40%, while AI-based optimizations have reduced operational costs by 15% in projects such as Petra Nova.Through systematic examination, we identify three key findings: (1) ICT transforms carbon economics through digital financing platforms and blockchain-based trading systems, with AI enhancing price prediction, though data interoperability remains challenging; (2) digital technologies advance both natural and artificial sequestration from forest monitoring to Carbon Capture, Use and Storage (CCUS) optimization, yet lack integrated real-time control solutions; (3) realizing ICT's full potential requires addressing its environmental costs, strengthening policy support, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. By bridging the economic engineering divide and mapping current applications alongside future opportunities, this paper demonstrates that deeper integration of digital technologies is essential to scale carbon sink solutions to meet climate targets.