ClimateChain: A Quantum-Secured Blockchain Architecture for Immutable Environmental Monitoring

This paper presented ClimateChain, a quantum-secured blockchain architecture for immutable environmental mon-itoring that successfully integrates BB84 Quantum Key Distribution simulation, Quantum Random Number Genera-tion, AES-256 symmetric encryption, and SHA-256 blockchain immutability into a cohesive, deployable framework. The proposed system addresses the three primary vulnerabilities threatening environmental data integrity: insecure IoT sen-sor communications susceptible to quantum cryptographic attacks, centralized database architectures permitting retroac-tive record falsification, and long-term data exposure through SNDL attacks on current asymmetric encryption protocols. Experimental evaluation across 1,000 independent tri-als demonstrated a Shannon Entropy value of 0.9989 for quantum-generated cryptographic keys, 100% eavesdrop-ping detection rates in simulated BB84 adversary scenarios, AES-CBC decryption latency of approximately 12 ms, and complete blockchain tamper detection for all tested mod-ification scenarios.[6] These results together show that the security features and performance of the proposed system are valid. The importance of ClimateChain goes beyond its help in monitoring the environment and security. The frame-work shows a way to move security-critical IoT systems to use post-quantum cryptography without needing to deploy physical quantum hardware. Future work will focus on integrating blockchain stor-age that lasts, connecting physical IoT sensors, deploying contracts for automatic carbon credit checks, and exploring ways to integrate hardware quantum key distribution. The proposed system provides a foundation that can grow for building a quantum-secure environmental data system.[17] This system can support the scientific and regulatory needs of next-generation climate monitoring and sustainable devel-opment projects.

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