DEV Methodology
What is DEV?
DEV means Decentralized Environmental Verification.
Currently we trust the certifier that says that a forest is well preserved and captures carbon dioxide. We also trust the certifier that says that a building project or a large infrastructure project will not destroy or negatively impact the environment. Finally, we trust the certifier that says that a sustainability project has this or that positive impact. This is marvelous, but it is also a little outdated. We live in the era of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and the Internet of Things (IoT), so it is time for Decentralized Environmental Verification.
DEV means the democratization and crowdsourcing of nature protection and sustainability oversight. Open data allows anyone to independently validate any sustainability claim made by any company or institutions anywhere in the world.
DEV was first explained in the book “Time for an Epic Victory”, and has been presented in some of the world’s top forums.
The original DEV Methodology
The Decentralized Environmental Verification (DEV) Methodology has three principles:
- Full open data. Data related to the environmental or sustainability variables being measured must be showcased on an open data platform on two levels: simplified to the general public (in non-technical formats) and detailed (including technical formats).
- Progressive improvement of the data quantity and quality. There should be an effort to continuously increase the data flow, and also the quality of the data being collected and brought into the open data platform.
- Traceability & immutability of the certificates related to the variable being measured. For instance, if a “green agriculture certification” is to be granted, then the document (the certificate) should be delivered in formats that cannot be easily modified or falsified. Certificates must be reliable and inalterable (for example, they can be created with Blockchain or similar technologies), and must always be linked to the sources where the data backing up the claim or certificate can be viewed by anyone (the open-data platform).
The DEV Carbon Methodology
The DEV Carbon Offset Methodology has four principles:
- Fiscal year accounting. C02 tons emitted during any given fiscal year are compensated with C02 tons sequestered within the same fiscal year.
- Full open data. Data collected in the sites of the solution (the sites of the offset) is open on two levels: simplified to the general public (in non-technical formats) and detailed (including technical formats) for registered verifiers, such as research institutions.
- Progressive improvement of the data quantity and quality. Big and small offsets alike have the possibility to comply if they open their data, since it is more important that they open them than what data sources they have at the beginning. The improvement in their data sources can be progressive, and Victoria Ecosystems can help projects obtaining better data collection, analysis, and visualization technologies.
- Traceability & immutability of the offset certificates. Guaranteeing that the certificates are reliable and inalterable (for example, they can be created with Blockchain or similar technologies), and must always be linked to the sources where the data can be viewed by anyone (open-data platforms).
The methodology’s other adaptations are the base for Victoria’s open-data certifications:
The DEV Sustainable Tourism Methodology
The DEV Housing Methodology
The DEV Energy Methodology
The DEV Sustainable Agriculture Methodology
The DEV Sustainable Building Methodology
Victoria Ecosystems
Welcome to the New Era.