Critics have complained about the potential environmental effects caused by the computing resources required by a blockchain network.

Analyse the potential effects that the use of MONS could have on the environment.

Award [6 max].
Negative impacts on the environment:
Miners which work on the network require energy to process proof of works;
Farms of miners will need energy for cooling systems such as AC, which have negative environmental results (e.g. greenhouse gases);
The use of computers to maintain the network may result in e-waste, which would be detrimental to the environment;
The mining of raw materials for electronic products (e.g. silicon, aluminum, copper, lead, and gold) can damage natural habitats for animals/pollutes water;

Positive/Mitigating factors:
Renewable energy may be used (solar energy is used by Bitcoin Miners now)
Low power specific computational devices (ASICS) are now widely used which reduces power consumption;
As miners aim to make a profit, they will always use the cheapest source of energy and therefore prefer solar etc.;
A moving towards a proof of stake rather than a proof of work would reduce the amount of processing required, therefore reducing cost and environmental damage;
Moving away from physical currency would reduce cotton/paper/plastic production;
The new computing machinery would replace the older physical technology (banks, counting machines, printing, etc.);