Carbon emission auditing method and system based on blockchain technology

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical fields of blockchain and carbon emission auditing. Disclosed are a carbon emission auditing method and system based on blockchain technology. The method comprises: acquiring carbon emission data of a target carbon emission entity; assessing integrated data on the basis of a preset carbon emission internal control standard; when the assessment result indicates that there is an abnormal item, tracing the abnormal data by using the traceability of the blockchain technology; for data passing the tracing verification, using a smart contract to verify whether the data meets a predetermined standard; and performing cause analysis on identified abnormal data to assess the potential impact thereof. The carbon emission auditing method based on blockchain technology provided by the present invention, by means of the full-process data rights confirmation and immutability of the blockchain technology, allows enterprises to record and share carbon emission data in real time, and reduces the cumbersome links of data acquisition and verification in traditional auditing, thereby effectively reducing auditing costs, and improving the accuracy and credibility of carbon emission auditing.

Description

A method and system for carbon emission auditing based on blockchain technology Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of blockchain and carbon emission auditing technology, specifically to a carbon emission auditing method and system based on blockchain technology. Background Technology

[0002] With increasing global focus on environmental protection and climate change, carbon emission auditing has become a crucial tool for assessing corporate environmental performance and fulfilling international climate agreements. However, current carbon emission auditing methods suffer from several problems: complex and error-prone data collection processes; inefficient and costly audit processes; and the need for substantial human resources due to the complexity and scale of audits, making it difficult to ensure consistent and comprehensive audit quality. To address these challenges, blockchain technology offers a revolutionary solution for carbon emission auditing, propelling it towards full coverage and real-time auditing.

[0003] Currently, carbon emission audits primarily rely on self-reported carbon emission data from enterprises. This data often suffers from opacity and susceptibility to tampering, severely impacting the accuracy and credibility of audit results. Furthermore, due to the complexity and diversity of carbon emission data, traditional auditing methods struggle to achieve real-time monitoring and effective management of the entire carbon emission process. Blockchain technology, a decentralized and distributed storage database technology, offers advantages such as data immutability, traceability, and high transparency. Applying blockchain technology to current carbon emission auditing can better ensure the authenticity, integrity, and reliability of collected audit data related to carbon emission activities, enabling end-to-end monitoring, automated auditing, and transparent sharing of carbon emission data. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is proposed.

[0005] Therefore, the technical problem solved by this invention is that existing carbon emission auditing methods suffer from complex and error-prone data collection processes, inefficient auditing processes, high costs, and the need for large human resource investment, making it difficult to ensure the continuity and comprehensiveness of audit quality. The invention also addresses how to optimize the collection, verification, and management processes of carbon emission data by introducing blockchain technology.

[0006] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides the following technical solution: a carbon emission auditing method based on blockchain technology, comprising:

[0007] The process involves acquiring carbon emission data from target carbon-emitting entities, integrating, classifying, and storing the data; evaluating the integrated data based on preset carbon emission internal control standards to identify any anomalies exceeding preset thresholds; when the evaluation indicates anomalies, leveraging the traceability of blockchain technology to trace the abnormal data back to its source and verify its authenticity; using smart contracts to verify whether the data meets predetermined standards after tracing; confirming data validity if it does not meet standards; filtering and processing abnormal data if it does not meet standards; analyzing the causes of the filtered abnormal data and assessing its potential impact; if data cannot be verified through smart contracts, initiating offline audit procedures for supplementary verification; generating carbon emission audit reports using blockchain technology and managing access permissions for the reports according to audit requirements.

[0008] As a preferred embodiment of the carbon emission auditing method based on blockchain technology described in this invention, the following steps are included: obtaining carbon emission data of the target carbon emission entity: deploying IoT sensors at the target carbon emission source to collect carbon emission-related data in real time; transmitting the collected carbon emission data to a central data collection system via a secure encryption protocol; summarizing data from different sensors using a data aggregation algorithm, removing duplicate data, filling in missing values, and formatting the data; storing the processed carbon emission data in a distributed ledger of the blockchain network, and generating a unique hash value for each piece of data.

[0009] As a preferred embodiment of the carbon emission auditing method based on blockchain technology described in this invention, the process of integrating, classifying, and storing data includes: converting the aggregated carbon emission data into a unified data format through a data standardization process, including data type, measurement unit, and timestamp information; classifying the data according to the type of carbon emission source using a hierarchical clustering algorithm; distributing and storing the classified carbon emission data on multiple nodes of the blockchain network, generating a unique hash value for each data item, and recording the storage time and location of the data through the blockchain's timestamp function.

[0010] As a preferred embodiment of the carbon emission auditing method based on blockchain technology described in this invention, the integrated data includes: deploying smart contracts in the blockchain network and setting assessment rules for internal carbon emission control standards; the smart contracts automatically execute data assessment algorithms to perform compliance checks on each integrated carbon emission data item and use statistical analysis methods to identify anomalies exceeding preset thresholds; marking the identified anomalies on the blockchain; generating an anomaly data report containing information on the anomalies and storing the report on the blockchain.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment of the blockchain-based carbon emission auditing method described in this invention, the following steps are included: Tracing the source involves generating a unique tracking identifier for each data item marked as abnormal, and recording the association between this identifier and the data item on the blockchain, including the data collection time, collection device number, and operator identity; tracking the entire process of collection, transmission, and storage of abnormal data items through operation logs on the blockchain, recording the node information and operator identity for each data operation; auditors using the blockchain's query function to access detailed operation records of abnormal data items based on the tracking identifier, verifying the data's source, transmission path, and processing history; and verifying the authenticity of the data by combining external data sources to check the source of the abnormal data items.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment of the carbon emission auditing method based on blockchain technology described in this invention, the following steps are taken: a pre-defined smart contract is deployed in the blockchain network. The smart contract contains verification logic for carbon emission standards, including data format verification, carbon emission detection, and emission source category matching. The smart contract automatically invokes the verification logic to perform compliance checks on each data item that passes the traceability verification. The checks include whether the carbon emission exceeds a preset threshold, whether the emission source type conforms to a predetermined category, and whether the emission period is within a reasonable range. Based on the verification results, the smart contract updates the status of data items that meet the standards to valid and records the verification results on the blockchain. For data items that do not meet the standards, the smart contract updates their status to abnormal and automatically triggers an abnormal data processing procedure.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment of the carbon emission auditing method based on blockchain technology described in this invention, the following steps are included: screening and processing abnormal data includes using machine learning algorithms to analyze the causes of data items marked as abnormal; generating an anomaly handling report based on the analysis results, recording the specific causes and handling measures for the data anomalies, and uploading the report content to the blockchain; if a data item cannot be verified through a smart contract, an offline audit procedure is triggered through the blockchain, and auditors are designated to conduct on-site verification and data source verification; supplementary data obtained by auditors through offline verification is compared with the data on the blockchain to confirm the accuracy of the data, and the verification results are uploaded to the blockchain, updating the status of the data item to "verified" or "requires further processing".

[0014] Another objective of this invention is to provide a carbon emission auditing system based on blockchain technology, which can solve the problems of insufficient data authenticity, low auditing efficiency, and high cost in existing carbon emission auditing by constructing a carbon emission auditing system based on blockchain technology.

[0015] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides the following technical solution: a carbon emission auditing system based on blockchain technology, comprising: an application layer for deploying IoT sensors to collect and preprocess carbon emission-related data in real time; a contract layer for executing smart contracts, assessing data compliance, and generating anomaly reports; a consensus layer for verifying data integrity through a consensus mechanism and ensuring the security of the blockchain network; a network layer for connecting the audited entity with stakeholders and managing data transmission and access permissions; and a data layer for storing carbon emission data and using hashing and encryption technologies to ensure data authenticity and security.

[0016] A computer device includes a memory and a processor, the memory storing a computer program, the processor executing the computer program to implement the steps of the carbon emission auditing method based on blockchain technology as described above.

[0017] A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the carbon emission auditing method based on blockchain technology as described above.

[0018] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: The carbon emission auditing method based on blockchain technology provided by this invention enables enterprises to record and share carbon emission data in real time through the full-process data ownership confirmation and immutability of blockchain technology. This reduces the cumbersome data collection and verification process in traditional auditing, thereby effectively reducing auditing costs and improving the accuracy and credibility of carbon emission auditing.

[0019] By leveraging the distributed storage and real-time tracking features of blockchain, tasks such as data collection, verification, analysis, and summarization can be completed entirely online in an automated manner, greatly reducing the burden on auditors, minimizing manual intervention and error rates, and improving the efficiency and automation of carbon emission audits.

[0020] Integrating blockchain's timestamp mechanism and distributed consistency technology into the carbon emissions audit process provides auditors with stable audit leads and reliable data sources, reducing audit risks caused by data tampering or loss. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the following description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 is an overall flowchart of a carbon emission auditing method based on blockchain technology provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 is an overall structural diagram of a carbon emission audit system based on blockchain technology provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 3 is a framework diagram of a blockchain-based carbon emission auditing method provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 is a flowchart of the audit preparation process for a carbon emission audit method based on blockchain technology provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating the audit implementation of a carbon emission auditing method based on blockchain technology according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 6 is a flowchart of an audit report for a carbon emission auditing method based on blockchain technology provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0029] Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full understanding of the invention. However, the invention may also be practiced in other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar extensions without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0030] Example 1

[0031] Referring to Figure 1, an embodiment of the present invention provides a carbon emission auditing method based on blockchain technology, comprising:

[0032] The audit process is shown in Figure 1. First, the carbon emission audit platform is introduced from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Second, audit preparation work is carried out through blockchain technology assessment, smart contract rules, and on-site investigation. Third, during the audit implementation phase, the authenticity and compliance of carbon emissions and related data are verified through data preprocessing, data verification and storage, and monitoring and early warning. Fourth, the audit report phase is responsible for integrating all evidence collected during the audit implementation phase, identifying anomalies or potential problems in the data, generating an audit report, and granting relevant access permissions.

[0033] Specifically, Step S1: Obtain carbon emission data from the target carbon-emitting entity, and integrate, classify, and store the data; Step S2: Based on preset carbon emission internal control standards, evaluate the integrated data and identify any anomalies exceeding preset thresholds; Step S3: When the evaluation results indicate the presence of anomalies, utilize the traceability of blockchain technology to trace the abnormal data back to its source and verify its authenticity; Step S4: For data that passes the traceability verification, use smart contracts to verify whether the data meets predetermined standards; if it does, confirm the data's validity; if it does not, filter and process the abnormal data; Step S5: Analyze the causes of the filtered abnormal data and assess its potential impact; if the data cannot be verified through smart contracts, initiate offline audit procedures for supplementary verification; Step S6: Generate a carbon emission audit report using blockchain technology and manage the report's access permissions according to audit requirements.

[0034] The process of acquiring carbon emission data from the target carbon emission entity includes deploying IoT sensors at the target carbon emission source to collect carbon emission-related data in real time, including but not limited to the emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane; transmitting the collected carbon emission data to a central data collection system via a secure encryption protocol (such as AES-256); using a data aggregation algorithm to summarize data from different sensors, removing duplicate data, filling in missing values, and formatting the data to ensure consistency and integrity; and storing the processed carbon emission data in a distributed ledger on a blockchain network, generating a unique hash value for each data entry to ensure the immutability and authenticity of the data.

[0035] The data integration, classification, and storage process includes converting the aggregated carbon emission data into a unified data format through a data standardization process, including data type, measurement unit, and timestamp information; classifying the data according to carbon emission source type (such as production process, transportation, energy consumption, etc.) using a hierarchical clustering algorithm to facilitate subsequent assessment and analysis; and distributing and storing the classified carbon emission data across multiple nodes of the blockchain network, with each data item generating a unique hash value and recording the storage time and location of the data through the blockchain's timestamp function to ensure the temporal consistency and immutability of the data.

[0036] The integrated assessment data includes smart contracts deployed on the blockchain network, pre-setting assessment rules for internal carbon emission control standards, including carbon emission limits, emission source categories, and time ranges; the smart contracts automatically execute data assessment algorithms to perform compliance checks on each integrated carbon emission data point, using statistical analysis methods (such as Z-scores and interquartile ranges) to identify anomalies exceeding preset thresholds; the identified anomaly data items are marked as anomalies on the blockchain, and their detailed information is recorded, including the anomaly type, the amount exceeding the standard, and related data source information, for subsequent source tracing; an anomaly data report containing information on the anomaly data items is generated and stored on the blockchain for auditors to view and analyze.

[0037] The traceability process includes generating a unique tracking identifier for each data item marked as abnormal and recording the association between the identifier and the data item on the blockchain, including the data collection time, collection device number, and operator identity; tracing the entire process of collection, transmission, and storage of abnormal data items through operation logs on the blockchain, recording node information and operator identity for each data operation; auditors using the blockchain's query function to access detailed operation records of abnormal data items based on the tracking identifier, verifying the data's source, transmission path, and processing history to ensure data authenticity and integrity; and verifying the source of abnormal data items by combining external data sources (such as internal company documents and third-party monitoring reports) to confirm data authenticity.

[0038] A pre-defined smart contract is deployed in the blockchain network. The smart contract contains verification logic for carbon emission standards, including data format verification, carbon emission detection, and emission source category matching. The smart contract automatically calls the verification logic to perform compliance checks on each data item that passes the traceability verification. The checks include whether the carbon emission exceeds a preset threshold, whether the emission source type conforms to a predetermined category, and whether the emission period is within a reasonable range. Based on the verification results, the smart contract updates the status of data items that meet the standards to valid and records the verification results on the blockchain. For data items that do not meet the standards, the smart contract updates their status to abnormal and automatically triggers an abnormal data processing procedure.

[0039] The process of filtering and processing abnormal data includes using machine learning algorithms to analyze the causes of data items marked as abnormal. These machine learning algorithms include decision trees, support vector machines, or neural networks, used to classify and identify the specific causes of data anomalies (such as data collection errors, calculation errors, data forgery, etc.). Based on the analysis results, an anomaly handling report is generated, recording the specific causes of the data anomalies and the corresponding handling measures, and the report content is uploaded to the blockchain. If a data item cannot be verified through a smart contract, an offline audit procedure is triggered via the blockchain, designating auditors to conduct on-site verification and data source verification. Supplementary data obtained by auditors through offline verification is compared with the data on the blockchain to confirm the accuracy of the data, and the verification results are uploaded to the blockchain, updating the data item's status to "verified" or "requires further processing."

[0040] Example 2

[0041] Referring to Figure 2, an embodiment of the present invention provides a carbon emission auditing system based on blockchain technology, comprising:

[0042] The application layer is used to deploy IoT sensors to collect and preprocess carbon emission-related data in real time; the contract layer is used to execute smart contracts, assess data compliance, and generate anomaly reports; the consensus layer is used to verify data integrity through a consensus mechanism and ensure the security of the blockchain network; the network layer is used to connect the audited entity with stakeholders and manage data transmission and access permissions; and the data layer is used to store carbon emission data and use hashing and encryption technologies to ensure data authenticity and security.

[0043] Example 3

[0044] One embodiment of the present invention differs from the previous two embodiments in that:

[0045] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this invention, essentially, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a portion of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this invention. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0046] The logic and / or steps represented in the flowchart or otherwise described herein, for example, can be considered as a sequenced list of executable instructions for implementing logical functions, and can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use by, or in conjunction with, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device (such as a computer-based system, a processor-included system, or other system that can fetch and execute instructions from, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device). For the purposes of this specification, "computer-readable medium" can be any means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transmit programs for use by, or in conjunction with, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

[0047] More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of computer-readable media include: electrical connections (electronic devices) having one or more wires, portable computer disk drives (magnetic devices), random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable and editable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), fiber optic devices, and portable optical disc read-only memory (CDROM). Furthermore, computer-readable media can even be paper or other suitable media on which the program can be printed, since the program can be obtained electronically, for example, by optically scanning the paper or other medium, followed by editing, interpreting, or otherwise processing as necessary, and then stored in computer memory.

[0048] It should be understood that various parts of the present invention can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In the above embodiments, multiple steps or methods can be implemented in software or firmware stored in memory and executed by a suitable instruction execution system. For example, if implemented in hardware, as in another embodiment, it can be implemented using any one or a combination of the following techniques known in the art: discrete logic circuits having logic gates for implementing logical functions on data signals, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) having suitable combinational logic gates, programmable gate arrays (PGAs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc.

[0049] Example 4

[0050] Referring to Figures 2-6, an embodiment of the present invention is provided, which provides a carbon emission auditing method based on blockchain technology. In order to verify the beneficial effects of the present invention, scientific demonstration is carried out through economic benefit calculation and simulation experiments.

[0051] The theoretical framework for carbon emission auditing based on blockchain technology established in this embodiment is shown in Figure 2. The data layer mainly stores carbon emission data and other related data. Through blockchain timestamps and smart contract technology, it ensures that this data is arranged in chronological order, constructing a clear and quickly locatable data chain. During data transmission and storage, technologies such as hash algorithms, distributed data storage methods, and asymmetric encryption are used to transmit carbon emission-related data to various network nodes on the entire blockchain, and each node is given the responsibility of managing and protecting this data, thus better achieving decentralization and ensuring the authenticity and security of carbon emission data to a certain extent.

[0052] The network layer connects the audited entity with various stakeholders by constructing a blockchain network platform. On this platform, both internal and external stakeholders are granted access to specific nodes in the blockchain network, facilitating their access to and retrieval of information related to the company's carbon emission activities within their authorized scope. This significantly improves the transparency and sharing of carbon emission data. For internal stakeholders, these assigned departmental nodes enable the automatic recording of carbon emission data generated during the company's production and operation processes into the blockchain, simplifying the data collection process and increasing the transparency of corporate carbon emission data. External stakeholders such as banks, suppliers, and customers can obtain more authentic, accurate, and tamper-proof carbon emission data through blockchain technology, facilitating information exchange between the company and its stakeholders. This also allows government departments and other stakeholders to monitor the company's carbon emission activities, thereby better regulating corporate behavior and reducing the occurrence of illegal activities.

[0053] The consensus layer consists of multiple consensus mechanisms, including Proof-of-Work and Proof-of-Stake. Through the synergy of these mechanisms, nodes in the blockchain network can quickly verify newly entered data, ensuring its authenticity and reliability. Furthermore, for data to be officially stored on the blockchain, it must be verified by at least 51% of the nodes. This reduces the risk of human tampering with data to some extent, thereby enhancing data security.

[0054] The contract layer, by integrating diverse smart contracts, sophisticated script code, and complex algorithms, automates the processing and transformation of input data, significantly simplifying the cumbersome steps of traditional auditing processes and thus greatly improving the efficiency and accuracy of auditing work. Furthermore, by pre-setting early warning rules closely related to corporate carbon emission activities on the blockchain, the contract layer can instantly capture and report potential problems, prompting companies to respond quickly and make timely adjustments and optimizations to non-compliant or excessive carbon emission activities. This early warning strategy not only helps companies effectively avoid greater losses that might result from failing to detect and resolve problems in a timely manner but also promotes increased environmental awareness and enhanced carbon emission management capabilities among enterprises.

[0055] The application layer integrates enterprise production and operation data closely linked to "carbon footprint" into the blockchain network. This initiative fundamentally enhances the authenticity, integrity, and reliability of carbon emission-related data, constructing a tamper-proof and traceable data ecosystem. This enables regulatory authorities to more effectively fulfill their supervisory responsibilities, improves the efficiency of auditors, and reduces audit risks.

[0056] The carbon emission audit application framework based on blockchain technology built in this embodiment is shown in Figure 3. The data acquisition system is mainly responsible for collecting carbon emission-related data from the audited entity, and then organizing and classifying this data so that auditors can quickly understand and effectively utilize this information. In addition, this module also undertakes the supervisory responsibility for the data verification process in the blockchain, ensuring that each node on the blockchain follows the established verification standards when adding or updating data.

[0057] The data analysis system first integrates comprehensive data on the carbon emission activities of the audited entity from the data acquisition system. Then, relying on the assessment results of the enterprise's internal control effectiveness from the internal control testing system, it sets the direction for the audit process. The assessment results require further analysis to determine whether they exceed preset importance thresholds. Assessment items exceeding these thresholds are imported into the intelligent early warning system for suspicious activity analysis. If data anomalies are detected, the traceability of blockchain technology can be used to locate the node where the abnormal data was entered, thereby verifying whether the data truly reflects the actual situation. If so, it is imported into the audit intelligent early warning system for further verification. If the data conforms to the standards and rules defined by the smart contract, it is considered to have passed verification. Otherwise, it is filtered out. These filtered data require further verification to determine the true cause and potential impact of the abnormal data. If necessary, offline audit procedures will be initiated as a supplement and deepening of the online analysis to ensure the comprehensiveness and accuracy of the audit work.

[0058] The core function of the audit report system is to generate and archive special and comprehensive audit reports, as well as various related reports. First, the system integrates blockchain technology to ensure that all data collected and its analysis results during the carbon emission audit process are verified by at least 51% of the nodes in the blockchain network, thereby guaranteeing data integrity and immutability. Second, the system backs up and stores this rigorously verified data and categorizes it according to the nature of the audit results. Finally, the system automatically generates standardized audit reports and efficiently publishes them externally, providing stakeholders with transparent and credible audit information.

[0059] The audit access layer tightly connects enterprises with numerous stakeholders, granting them convenient access rights on computer terminals or mobile devices through a rigorous authorization mechanism, enabling them to easily view audit reports. This initiative not only simplifies the information acquisition process but also significantly enhances transparency, creating unprecedented convenience for stakeholders to monitor enterprises' carbon emission activities.

[0060] During the audit preparation phase, auditors primarily assess the auditee's blockchain technology level by examining aspects such as the level of technology application, management's emphasis on blockchain technology, and the technical capabilities of relevant personnel. Furthermore, they thoroughly examine the accuracy, consistency, reliability, and isolation of carbon emission smart contracts, carbon emission smart audit contracts, and carbon emission activity smart monitoring and early warning contracts to ensure the reasonableness of the smart contract settings in the blockchain-based carbon emission audit system. Based on these assessments, auditors also conduct on-site investigations and review relevant documents to gain a comprehensive understanding of the auditee's basic carbon emission activities.

[0061] Figure 4 shows the distributed network architecture of a blockchain-based carbon emission audit system. First, a multi-party consortium blockchain network needs to be built around the audited entity. All nodes participating in the consortium blockchain must adhere to a unified protocol standard to ensure consistency and compliance. Simultaneously, each node must independently assume its verification responsibilities to ensure the secure flow of audit data on the chain. Importantly, the consortium blockchain design strictly limits illegal data operations, including destruction, tampering, and leakage, thus building a robust data security defense. Furthermore, the distributed nature of the consortium blockchain provides a mutual supervision mechanism among nodes, promoting increased transparency and trust. This mutual supervision mechanism not only enhances system stability but also ensures the authenticity and reliability of audit data, laying a solid foundation for the smooth progress of carbon emission audits. Then, an audit unit comprising multiple audit teams is established to jointly manage the various nodes in the consortium blockchain network. By building this private blockchain platform, the audit unit can efficiently transmit information between teams, achieving seamless data sharing and real-time synchronization.

[0062] The consortium blockchain jointly built by the auditee and various stakeholders, as well as the private blockchain within the auditing entity, employ a flexible connection model in the system design. During the audit period, this design enables the auditing entity to quickly obtain the necessary data and conduct efficient audit work through rapid and accurate connection; while during non-audit periods, each blockchain focuses on its own daily operations, ensuring the stable operation of the system and achieving efficient, secure, and orderly audit work.

[0063] Figure 5 shows the operational process of the implementation phase of carbon emission auditing based on blockchain technology. First, a carbon emission data trading platform is built. This platform has a data trading pool to centrally store carbon emission data. Then, the integrity and consistency of the trading data are ensured according to the data integrity and consistency constraints of blockchain. If there is any inconsistency, the data is sent to the next stage for verification and processing.

[0064] Secondly, in the carbon emission data verification process, a node with special accounting authority, known as the "verification node" or "accounting node," is established within the consensus mechanism. This node is responsible for recording rigorously verified data into the blockchain. Every node in the blockchain network is granted the power to verify carbon emission data, and these nodes collectively form the verification "jury." In this "jury," each node has a veto right; if any node has doubts about the data or believes it does not meet the prescribed standards, it can raise objections and prevent the data from passing verification. Only when all nodes in the blockchain network reach a consensus that the data is true, accurate, and meets carbon emission audit requirements will the data be considered successfully verified and allowed to be entered into the blockchain. If the data fails to pass verification by all nodes—that is, if any node objects—the data will be considered verification failed and needs to be returned to its original location for re-verification or correction.

[0065] Secondly, once the data passes initial verification and is successfully entered into the blockchain ledger by a node with accounting rights, every node in the blockchain network receives this verification result instantly and automatically updates it in its local ledger, ensuring network-wide data consistency. Next, this data activates the blockchain's built-in smart contract mechanism, initiating a second, more in-depth verification process. If the data successfully passes this level of verification, it will be officially added to the chain, forming a new block, and permanently stored with a timestamp. The introduction of timestamps provides an immutable proof of time for on-chain data, making any modification or deletion of data virtually impossible, thereby greatly enhancing data credibility and security. When conducting carbon emission verification, audit teams can easily use timestamps to track the source, changes, and final state of data, significantly improving the accuracy and efficiency of the audit. Furthermore, auditing entities can easily access and retrieve this successfully added data through the network interfaces of consortium blockchains and private blockchains. This data sharing and extraction mechanism not only reduces the cost of information acquisition during the audit process, but also enables the audit work to be more deeply integrated with the data verification process of the blockchain, thereby indirectly verifying the reliability and efficiency of blockchain technology in data verification.

[0066] Finally, the data analysis system and intelligent early warning mechanism of blockchain are used to comprehensively assess the authenticity and completeness of carbon emission data. In this step, smart contracts are used to check the integrity of the data and identify potential omissions or inconsistencies. Once a problem is detected, the smart contract immediately triggers a notification, requiring the audited entity to supplement the missing data as soon as possible and resubmit for review to ensure the comprehensiveness and accuracy of the data. For data that passes the initial screening by smart contracts, the system further matches and compares it in detail with the timestamped blockchain ledger data. If the two sets of data match, the verification passes; if they do not match, the abnormal data is imported into the data analysis system for further analysis. During this process, auditors also proactively communicate with the audited entity to understand its business operations and data management to obtain more information. This communication helps auditors more accurately determine whether the data is authentic. If the data is consistent with reality, the audit passes; otherwise, a risk assessment is conducted, and an audit opinion is formed based on the actual situation, ultimately issuing an audit report.

[0067] The operational flow of the carbon emission audit report stage based on blockchain technology is shown in Figure 6. In this stage, the audit team needs to integrate all evidence collected during the audit implementation phase, identify anomalies or potential problems in the data, and compile written materials. Then, depending on the nature of the problem, they communicate with the management of the audited entity. This information is transmitted through the audited entity's private blockchain to the audit team leader or other responsible nodes. After discussion and review, a corresponding audit report is issued. The issued audit report is also uploaded to the consortium blockchain platform where the audited entity is located. At this point, audit access is enabled, and stakeholders can view the audit report after their application for access is approved. For reports containing trade secrets or sensitive information, advanced key encryption technology is used for protection, ensuring that only authorized entities or individuals can access the report after identity verification and key unlocking. Audit reports that do not involve trade secrets adopt a more open strategy, being directly open to the public. The public can conveniently access these reports through official websites, mobile applications, or other authorized channels. Furthermore, through statistical analysis of the carbon emission data and audit clues stored within the blockchain, recommendations are made.

[0068] It should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention, and all such modifications or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A carbon emission auditing method based on blockchain technology, characterized in that, include: Acquire carbon emission data of target carbon-emitting entities, and integrate, classify and store the data; Based on preset carbon emission internal control standards, the integrated data is evaluated to identify any anomalies that exceed preset thresholds; When the evaluation results indicate the presence of anomalies, the traceability of blockchain technology is used to trace the abnormal data back to its source and verify its authenticity. For data that has passed the traceability verification, a smart contract is used to verify whether the data meets the predetermined standards; if it does, the validity of the data is confirmed; if it does not, abnormal data is filtered and processed. Analyze the causes of the selected abnormal data and assess their potential impact. If the data cannot be verified by the smart contract, an offline audit procedure will be initiated for supplementary verification. Carbon emission audit reports are generated using blockchain technology, and access permissions to the reports are managed according to audit requirements. 2.The blockchain technology-based carbon emission auditing method of claim 1, wherein: The acquisition of carbon emission data of the target carbon emission entity includes deploying IoT sensors at the target carbon emission source to collect carbon emission-related data in real time; The collected carbon emission data is transmitted to the central data collection system via a secure encryption protocol. Data aggregation algorithms are used to summarize data from different sensors, remove duplicate data, fill in missing values, and perform formatting. The processed carbon emission data is stored in a distributed ledger on a blockchain network, and a unique hash value is generated for each piece of data. 3.The blockchain technology-based carbon emission auditing method of claim 2, wherein: The integration, classification and storage of data includes converting the aggregated carbon emission data into a unified data format through a data standardization process, which includes data type, measurement unit and timestamp information. The data is classified according to the type of carbon emission source using a hierarchical clustering algorithm; The categorized carbon emission data is distributed and stored across multiple nodes in the blockchain network. Each data item generates a unique hash value, and the storage time and location of the data are recorded through the blockchain's timestamp function. 4.The blockchain technology-based carbon emission auditing method of claim 3, wherein: The integrated assessment data includes assessment rules that deploy smart contracts on a blockchain network and pre-set internal carbon emission control standards. The smart contract automatically executes the data evaluation algorithm to perform compliance checks on each piece of integrated carbon emission data and uses statistical analysis methods to identify anomalies that exceed preset thresholds. The identified anomalous data items are marked as anomalous on the blockchain; Generate an anomaly data report containing information about anomalous data items and store the report on the blockchain. 5.The blockchain technology-based carbon emission auditing method according to claim 4, wherein: The traceability process includes generating a unique tracking identifier for each data item marked as abnormal, and recording the association between the identifier and the data item on the blockchain, including the data collection time, the collection device number, and the operator's identity. By using the operation logs on the blockchain, the entire process of collecting, transmitting and storing abnormal data items can be tracked, and the node information and operator identity of each data operation can be recorded. Auditors can use the blockchain's query function to access detailed operation records of anomalous data items based on tracking identifiers, thereby verifying the data's source, transmission path, and processing history. By combining external data sources, the source of abnormal data items is verified to confirm the authenticity of the data. 6.The blockchain technology based carbon emission auditing method according to claim 5, wherein: Deploy a pre-defined smart contract in the blockchain network. The smart contract contains verification logic for carbon emission standards, including data format verification, carbon emission detection, and emission source category matching. The smart contract automatically invokes the verification logic to perform compliance checks on each data item that passes the traceability verification. The checks include whether the carbon emissions exceed a preset threshold, whether the emission source type conforms to a predetermined category, and whether the emission period is within a reasonable range. Based on the verification results, the smart contract updates the status of data items that meet the standards to be valid and records the verification results on the blockchain; For data items that do not meet the standards, the smart contract updates their status to abnormal and automatically triggers the abnormal data processing procedure.

7. The blockchain technology based carbon emission auditing method as claimed in claim 6, wherein: The process of filtering and handling abnormal data includes using machine learning algorithms to analyze the causes of data items marked as abnormal. Based on the analysis results, an anomaly handling report is generated, recording the specific reasons for the data anomalies and the handling measures, and the report content is uploaded to the blockchain; If a data item cannot be verified by the smart contract, an offline audit procedure will be triggered via the blockchain, and auditors will be designated to conduct on-site verification and data source verification. Auditors compare the supplementary data obtained through offline verification with the data on the blockchain to confirm the accuracy of the data, and then upload the verification results to the blockchain to update the status of the data item to either verified or requiring further processing.

8. A system employing the carbon emission auditing method based on the blockchain technology according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, include: The application layer is used to deploy IoT sensors to collect and preprocess carbon emission-related data in real time. The contract layer is used to execute smart contracts, assess data compliance, and generate anomaly reports. The consensus layer is used to verify data integrity through a consensus mechanism and ensure the security of the blockchain network. The network layer connects the auditee with stakeholders and manages data transmission and access permissions; The data layer stores carbon emission data and uses hashing and encryption techniques to ensure data authenticity and security. 9.A computer device, comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the computer device is configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-8 when the computer program is executed by the processor. When the processor executes the computer program, it implements the steps of the carbon emission auditing method based on blockchain technology as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by the processor, it implements the steps of the carbon emission auditing method based on blockchain technology as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

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