Add nominee: IOTA

[lacabra]

Automatic addition of a new nominee submitted through the online form available at https://digitalpublicgoods.net/submission

[nathanbaleeta]

IOTA submitted with gaps in the following indicators:

• Use of Approved Open Licenses. The license URL does not explicitly indicate EUPL 1.2 license at any point.

@lacabra I reached out to the project contact person and requested them to point us to the repo within their Github organization which mentions the above license.

[jwflory]

Hi, I noticed I was tagged for a review and lagged here. Thanks for the patience!

A few things need untangling from this submission:

1. Is this submission including the IOTA protocol (a standard?), the ledger tools (e.g. Hornet and Bee software), both, or something else? The submission title is for the protocol, the linked license is software for running an IOTA node (i.e. infrastructure code), and the repository link is for a JavaScript developer library. This submission is confusing and the scope of the submission needs to be narrowed down.
2. SDG relevance needs clarity. I bias towards stronger ties to SDG targets and indicators. I think stronger connections to the SDGs around crypto solutions better assure doubts that other open source communities would have. Specific SDG notes below.
3. If the above is clarified, could we ask Arun, blockchain lead in the UNICEF Ventures team, to review the potential impact of this idea on the SDGs? He has a stronger background to review the IOTA overview page and introduction documentation and get a better signal-to-noise ratio than me.

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SDG relevance

Goal 7

Seeking clarity on relevance to SDG 7 targets 7.1 (By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services) and 7.3 (By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency). Also wanting to know more about scale with growing network load.

Most of SDG 7 targets and indicators focus on the generation, supply, and distribution of renewable and clean energy. The advantage-add of IOTA seems to be with a method that uses a minimal energy footprint in computational time. What I want to know the use case of IOTA as a blockchain versus a common use case using a Web 2 equivalent solution. What is the difference in footprint between a transaction for the food supply chain in Web 2 (e.g. databases?) or Web 3?

"The energy usage is unlikely to scale linearly with network load." [1]

Also curious to better understand this. What happens as network load increases? Does the energy cost increase as the network size increases? What does this mean for the long-tail of the energy footprint?

Goal 9

Seeking clarity on relevance to SDG 9 targets:

• 9.1 (Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all)
• 9.a (Facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced financial, technological and technical support to African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States), and/or
• 9.b (Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities)

I think this is what they are highlighting:

"One of the major barriers to trade is the complex paper-based, cross-border processes, which results in over 1 trillion lost globally on an annual basis. This is often a result of the lack of a trust relationship between an issuer of a paper document in the exporting country and the customs authority in the importing country. The current inefficient processing of the enormous amounts of information and verification on products, along with food delays denies growth to individuals, companies, and countries that are attempting to expand their economies." [1]

Is the IOTA use case hypothetical or actual for this type of work? If actual, by whom?

Goal 11

Seeking clarification to SDG 11 target 7.3 (By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries). Are there any results in the three months after selection in the EU-funded pilot? A more clear connection is needed to its use for urban planning and management systems to operate regularly and democratically.

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FYI: @siddharthvipul