Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/ ZENODOarrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/
ZENODO
Preprint . 2026
Data sources: ZENODO
ZENODO
Preprint . 2026
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Preprint . 2026
Data sources: Datacite
versions View all 2 versions
addClaim

Environmental Information as a Public Utility

Reducing regulatory entropy and maximizing Net Environmental Gain ( ) in the AI era by shifting from decentralized compliance to an API-based "Regulatory-as-a-Service" model
Authors: Melegh, János Gábor;

Environmental Information as a Public Utility

Abstract

This preprint argues that current ESG and CSRD sustainability governance is structurally inefficient because it relies on decentralized, document-heavy compliance. Thousands of firms independently reproduce similar data collection, auditing, and reporting processes, which creates duplicated costs, fragmented datasets, and high administrative overhead. As a result, a growing share of resources is absorbed by compliance itself rather than by real environmental improvements. The paper reframes sustainability reporting as a system-level resource allocation problem. Compliance is treated as a measurable system cost that competes with actual decarbonization and transition investments. When reporting, assurance, and validation are duplicated across firms, regulatory “entropy” increases and net environmental outcomes deteriorate, even if formal rules become stricter. To address this, the paper proposes a structural shift toward an Environmental Information Utility model, also described as “Regulatory-as-a-Service.” In this model, the regulator (or a delegated public institution) operates a shared information infrastructure that produces standardized, validated, machine-readable environmental indices. Firms provide only minimal incremental inputs, while reusable outputs are distributed through stable APIs. Two core indices are introduced. The Environmental Load Index represents a fact-based environmental footprint aligned with lifecycle assessment principles. The Improvement Potential Index represents the feasible reduction potential under known technologies and constraints. These indices are designed to be directly consumable by financial systems, procurement platforms, and consumer tools. By centralizing the label and index layer, the system reduces transaction costs, improves comparability, limits rating divergence and greenwashing, and enables continuous, AI-driven decision-making. Quantitative illustrations show that as duplicated compliance overhead declines, net environmental gain increases mechanically, even under uncertainty. The paper also outlines a practical implementation architecture, governance safeguards, and a concrete pilot roadmap. It argues that treating environmental information as a digital public utility aligns sustainability regulation with how modern markets, algorithms, and institutions actually operate, shifting the focus from paperwork compliance to measurable environmental impact.

Keywords

Environmental Information Utility, Regulatory-as-a-Service, regulatory entropy, Net Environmental Gain

  • BIP!
    Impact byBIP!
    selected citations
    These citations are derived from selected sources.
    This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    0
    popularity
    This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    Average
    impulse
    This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
Green