(by Martin O. & Petr D.)
Business as Unusual. Over the past few weeks, we’ve been fully immersed in this course, and its final presentation stage brought many exciting moments. We’d like to share how we collaborated during this concluding phase and what impressions we took away.
At our penultimate meeting (Business as Unusual: Defining a New Ecosystem Regeneration Model), we reached the second of the two diamonds in the Design Double Diamond framework – specifically the Develop phase (the third stage of four) and subsequently the Deliver phase (the fourth stage). Together (Martin & Petr), we created a model that represented our theme and then prepared a clear – and, in our view, very well-executed – presentation. In the end, we “delivered” the presentation with success.
An interesting aspect of our work was how we operated as a two-person team. We worked efficiently, dividing our efforts fairly evenly. Petr focused more on the initial stages of the Double Diamond, while Martin took the lead in the later phases, especially during the presentation itself, which was conducted in English. It can be said that we distributed our strengths effectively, applied our skills, and supported one another.
The presentation was evaluated not only by instructors but also by fellow participants, leading to engaging discussions.
Presentation: Ecosystem Restoration Corporation
One of the key outputs of our presentation was the concept of TreeCoin – a currency that supports environmentally conscious behaviour in everyday life. Our model promotes environmental responsibility by linking economic activities to ecological goals. The system redefines profit to reflect direct benefits for nature and society, steering the economy toward long-term sustainability and regeneration.
For example, individuals or companies could earn TreeCoins by participating in ecological projects, such as planting trees or sorting waste. Alternatively, they could purchase TreeCoins from a government agency that would issue the currency. Proceeds from selling TreeCoins would be used to fund ecological projects, technologies, and research. Every product or service would have both a financial price and a TreeCoin price, determined by its CO2 footprint during production.
Technologically, the system would be built on blockchain to ensure transparency and cost tracking. For instance, customers could be motivated to earn TreeCoins through ecological activities, contributing to real environmental projects.
The discussion and questions during the presentation generated many concrete and thought-provoking ideas. For instance, Martina K. 💡 mentioned the book The Ministry for the Future and asked questions about the practical functioning of the concept. She inquired how TreeCoin would influence the prices of ecological products and how the role of the government agency issuing the currency would be defined. Martin O. explained that products like cotton clothing could become cheaper due to lower environmental costs and that the agency’s role would resemble that of a central bank.
Paul M. 💡 highlighted global discussions about carbon credits and pointed out the challenges associated with their trading. He referred to Articles 6.2 and 6.4 from COP 29 negotiations (or https://cop29.az/), which address the trading of carbon credits between states. He noted that a model like ours could address some of these issues but would require careful design to prevent speculation.
On country-to-country trading (Article 6.2), the decision out of COP29 provides clarity on how countries will authorize the trade of carbon credits and how registries tracking this will operate. And there is now reassurance that environmental integrity will be ensured up front through technical reviews in a transparent process. [1]
On day one of COP29, countries agreed standards for a centralized carbon market under the UN (Article 6.4 mechanism). This is good news for developing countries, who will benefit from new flows of finance. And it is particularly good news for least developed countries, who will get the capacity-building support they need to get a foothold in the market.
This mechanism, known as the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism, is underpinned by mandatory checks for projects against strong environmental and human rights protections, including safeguards that ensure a project can’t go ahead without explicit, informed agreement from Indigenous Peoples. It also allows anyone affected by a project to appeal a decision or file a complaint.
Under the text agreed on Article 6.4, there is a clear mandate for the UN carbon market to align with science. It tasks the Body getting this market up and running to consider the best available science across all work going forward. [1]
Martin B. 💡 then suggested that the value of TreeCoins could increase over time, much like a tree grows with more rings. This approach could motivate long-term retention and saving of TreeCoins. He also emphasized the need for energy balancing in the system and mentioned the example of organic cotton, which can be energy-intensive to produce.
💡 The debate also touched on technological aspects, such as how blockchain would ensure transparency and track ecological activities. Martin O. shared a specific example of a Norwegian company demonstrating that some recycling processes can be less environmentally friendly than raw material extraction. This discussion opened new perspectives on the possibilities and limitations of implementing our model.
We received positive feedback from the audience, who appreciated our ambition and the thoroughness of our proposal. The discussion provided us with fresh insights and inspiration for further developing the concept. We thank everyone for their thought-provoking questions and comments.
Meaningfulness of the Course Business as Unusual
The Business as Unusual course, part of the Information Services Design programme at Masaryk University, offers a unique opportunity to combine creativity, innovation, and practical thinking about societal and environmental challenges. The course captivated us with its relevance and profound impact on our understanding of the role of design in today’s world.
Thanks to the excellent work of instructors such as Paul, Martin, and Jakub, we had the chance to dive into complex topics and discover new approaches to solving problems that go far beyond conventional paradigms. Their enthusiasm and support were key to our motivation and commitment to the project. For this, we extend our heartfelt thanks.
The course not only broadened our horizons but also strengthened our sense of purpose in what we study. We particularly hope that this course remains a part of the Information Services Design programme in the future. It’s a fascinating and timeless course that could enrich future generations of students.
Our only regret is that we are already in our third year and won’t have the opportunity to take this course again. We would love to revisit these ideas and discussions, as they hold enormous potential to inspire not only our projects but also our future career paths. We hope similar courses will be added to the programme, as they provide a fresh perspective on the world and teach us how to shape the future for the better.