Using Technology to Improve the Future

Using Technology to Improve the Future

As addressed in the readings, technology has the potential to both solve global social problems and make them worse. For example, technological devices that can interact with the environment have the potential to reduce world hunger by helping to increase food production in developing countries. However, some technological advancements—such as weapons of war and automated assembly lines—can threaten life through armed conflict, and pollution of the environment can increase poverty by eliminating jobs.

Do advancements in technology pose any direct and/or indirect threats to the global environment? Choose one advancement and provide two examples of direct or indirect threats in your explanation.

Technology has had a positive impact on people when it comes to the economy, security and other areas, however, some argue that it brought more harm than good to the global environment. The constant development of the internet has been one of the advancements that have pose a threat to the global environment. Advancements in technology need to be monitored because in the recent past, there has been production of destructive weapons, automobiles and machines to make work or life easier. This consequently leads to environmental pollution since there are industries processing as well as manufacturing these weapons and automobiles. The industries produce large amounts of carbon(IV)oxide which pollute air, they also dispose waste into rivers which destroys their aesthetic nature as well as affects the aquatic eco-system.

On the other hand, noise is also polluted due to the testing of weapons or these automobiles and the rapid growth of industries. The environment has been greatly affected by technology for example, people now have overreliance on gadgets or lighting and when this equipment become outdated some throw them away for example the big monitors in place for laptops and therefore when they are no properly disposed, then they affect the environment. Wireless technology has also affected the ecosystem since there is a lot of radiation exposure forcing some living organisms to migrate. Technology has also encouraged deforestation for development, for instance, people want to improve infrastructure or destinations where people can enjoy and this is harmful to the environment since some living organism lose their natural habitat and are also forced to migrate.

The internet has increased opportunities for people in terms of job opportunities to the urge to travel the world. It has brought about virtual reality which is used by people to hold meeting from whatever destination on the other hand it has enabled people to enjoy the wonders of the world from the comfort of their homes through some gadgets. This is harmful since it has led to anti-social behavior because even in social gathering people are on their phones instead of enjoying the moment. It has also led to cyber bullying which may affect someone’s psychology in terms of self-esteem. It has led to cyber-crimes such as fraud, hacking, viruses and others which compromise the security of private data. Companies have been battling with this so that they do no lose crucial information.

Technology has also led to the depletion of natural resources since most of the equipment used by people require power, for example to charge electronic devices. The production of electricity is then in large amounts and since it utilizes fossil fuels or nuclear fuels then they can easily be depleted. In addition, it has led to global warming as well as destruction of the ozone layer due to the increase in industries which emit gases harmful to the environment. The application of biotechnology may affect the quality of soil or lead to the degradation of soil whereby carbon is released into the atmosphere.

REFERENCE

Schaltegger, S. &. (2017). Contemporary environmental accounting: issues, concepts and practice. Routledge.