Helga Stentzel’s Hang-On depicts a bear trying to hang as the snows melt as Artists create NFTs. Image: Artist

Artists Create NFTs to raise funds for Trees for the Future and other environmental causes on World Environment Day.

BY KAZAD

Three well-known digital artists, Helga Stentzel, Vincent Bal, and Javier Jaen will do a combined NFT (Non-Fungible Tokens) drop on World Environment Day to raise money for Trees for the Future (TREES). TREES is a regenerative agroforestry nonprofit that works closely with farmers to plant trees and change lives.  The NFT project has the hashtag #NFT4ThePlanet and the drop will happen on MakersPlace.  

Why NFTs?

Why NFTs and not traditional art such as photography, painting, and sculpture?  This is one question the artists have been contending with since they announced their project.  Lately, NFT has come under intense criticism for contributing to the pollution of the environment. Environmental groups have been unanimous in their condemnation of NFTs. The amount of energy used in creating NFT artworks and the carbon footprints left behind after each drop is the bone of contention.

NFTs and the Environment

The excessive computing power required for each transaction and recording to complete each NFT artwork has made them a target for environmentalists.  However, while NFTs are evidently environmentally unfriendly, there are those who believe that there are “clean” or “green” NFTs.

The artists in NFT for the Planet project see an opportunity in using NFT to save the planet. Besides embracing cryptocurrencies, the artists and TREES feel the positive impact of the NTF project far outweighs the negative.

It is not surprising that the artists are embracing cryptocurrencies and NFTs. Crypto art collectibles are vigorously spending millions to add NFTs to their collections.  In the last few months, many artists have sold their NFTs for millions of dollars and accepted cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin as payment.  

The lucrative nature of NFTs has made many important artists join the race to make hay while the sun shines. One of them is Damien Hirst who recently released a collection of NFTs called The Currency Project using the Palm sidechain. Collectors bought the works with Bitcoin, a major cryptocurrency that requires tons of energy to produce. The Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index shows that Bitcoin-mining operations worldwide now use energy at the rate of nearly a hundred and twenty terawatt-hours per year. This almost equals the annual domestic electricity consumption of the entire nation of Sweden.

Cryptocurrencies Donations

Trees for the Future is one of the organizations accepting cryptocurrencies as donations. The organization sees this as an innovative way to raise funds for its effort to help farmers across the world and also protect the environment. According to the organization, “Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency donations” is “one of the most tax-efficient ways to support” its cause. Therefore, “You can donate Bitcoin, Ethereum, ChainLink, Litecoin, and more.

The artists in the NFT Planet project understand the impact of NFTs and cryptocurrencies on the environment and taking percussions.  To ensure minimal emission and pollution, the participants will do their NFT drop via the ethereum platform because they feel it takes its energy consumption into consideration.

One advantage the artists in the NFT project see is how the money generated will be used in protecting the environment and helping farmers across the globe. Every $700 donated will go towards assisting a farmer with tools, seeds, and training they need to plant themselves out of poverty and hunger through regenerative agriculture.  Additionally, TREES also guides and ensures farmers plant many trees. Through its Future’s four-year training program, the organization facilitates the planting of between 2,500 trees and 4,000 trees that protect and bring nutrients back to the soil, and sequester 145 metric tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere over 20 years.

Artists Create NFTs for Trees for the Future

The positive impact of generating much-needed funds for charity and projects that will be environmentally beneficial is a major point of excitement for the three artists in the endeavor.  Helga Stentzel comment is succinct:

 We are excited to launch a project which uses NFT art to raise awareness and funds for a great cause. We know doing NFT drops for environmental causes is controversial, but we are convinced this is the right thing to do. Environmental charities need all the financial support they can get to fight climate change and we are hoping this will inspire other artists – no matter how big or small.”

Helga Stentzel

Helga will offer two NFTs based on the popular works from her most popular series – Clothing line animals. Smoothie and Hang On have beenfeatured in many magazines and shows across the globe. Hang On, the latest work in the series is dedicated to Ursula, a polar bear hanging on to her homeland despite the odds. The winning bidder will receive a special one-of-a-kind signed print in a custom size (up to 84x84cm).

Javier Jaen

Javier Jaen will offer NFTs based on his best-known personal works, The Time is Now and Mother Earth. The Time Now brings attention to the urgency needed to save the planet. In addition to the NFT, the winning bidder will also receive a special edition physical clock signed by Javier. A 1-minute loop video of the work is on the artist’s website. Mother Earth is a reminder of how fragile our planet is, and of our duty to protect it.

Vincent Bal

The award-winning Belgian film director and “Shadowologist Vincent Bal will mint NFTs based on his favorite works Hair Fork Farmer and Solar Bear.  Solar Bear is particularly poignant as it addresses the melting North Pole, raising awareness of climate change. The bear in the piece seems to ask ‘Where is the ice?’ Here is a video of the artist at work creating Solar Bear.

To make participation in the World Environment Day event expansive, organizers have invited other artists to create NFTs in support of their favorite environmental cause. The artists will join the drop by listing their NFTs on the platform of their choice on June 5 using the #NFT4thePlanet hashtag on Twitter and Instagram. The drop will happen on World Environment Day, a day started by the United Nations (UN) to remind people to take better care of our planet.

Already, more than 18 NFT artists including Valentina Loffredo, the successful NFT Artist Zigor Samaniego, and the well-known street & NFT artist Kaybid. The artists are using their works to highlight how humans are destroying nearly every ecological system. The artists will donate proceeds from their NFT drops to their favorite environmental charities including Trees for the Future, The Rainforest Foundation, WWF, various carbon removal projects via Offsetra, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, and Spark Eco – an environmental crypto fund.

More Trees for the Planet

Alexa Castellano from TREES explained why the organization is thrilled about the effort of the artists and the prospect of the NFT for the Planet project:

 We are so excited to see these talented artists take the initiative to educate the world about the environmental impacts of NFTs, while finding new, creative ways to fundraise for our mission. By using their talents to support us in planting trees and empowering those who are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, they are proving that we all have the power to make a positive impact on the planet.

Three artists create NFTs to help preserve the environment. What do you think about NFTs and cryptocurrencies? Join the conversation. Leave a comment.