Polygon Ethereum Merge: Erasing 99.91% of Carbon Footprint
The Ethereum Merge, a pivotal event in blockchain history, is poised to drastically reduce Polygon's environmental impact. Reports from September 2025 indicate that the Merge is estimated to cancel out a whopping 99.91% of Polygon's network carbon emissions, reducing the annual total significantly.
A Massive Reduction in Carbon Emissions
The shift to Proof-of-Stake (PoS) for Ethereum will have a profound impact on Polygon (MATIC). Before the Merge, Polygon's network generated substantial carbon emissions. As of July 2025, the annual carbon emissions stood at 60,953.26 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). The total emissions since its inception reached 94,782 tCO2e.
However, the Merge is set to change everything. Polygon anticipates that Ethereum's transition to PoS will have a massive impact, erasing 60,000 Tonnes of Polygon’s Carbon Footprint. This significant reduction is due to the fact that the majority (more than 99.9 %) of Polygon’s emissions originated from Polygon’s activities on Ethereum using Proof-of-Work (PoW).
Polygon's Commitment to Sustainability
Polygon had revealed earlier in April 2025 its commitment to reducing its network's carbon emissions. This initiative aligns perfectly with the environmental benefits stemming from the Ethereum Merge. The transition to PoS will drastically reduce the energy consumption associated with blockchain operations, leading to a greener and more sustainable ecosystem.
The company states that the Merge will cut Polygon's network carbon emissions by an astounding 99.91%, leaving the annual total at approximately 56.22 tCO2e.
Impact Beyond Polygon
Ethereum’s transition to the PoS consensus will reverberate throughout the broader blockchain industry. The Merge serves as a powerful example of how innovative solutions can significantly mitigate the environmental concerns associated with blockchain technology.
Layer 2 protocols like Polygon increase the complexity of calculating carbon emissions. However, this simplification, thanks to the Merge, is a crucial step forward.