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The Impact of Technology on the Environment

Posted by Manjoth Sanghera on 28/10/2021

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The Impact of Technology on the Environment

The environmental repercussions of the rapid advancement of technology are varied. With the industrial revolution came growing water and air pollution as well as carbon emissions that we are now seeing the ramifications of through climate change. And while it is the case that modern technology has become more efficient, therefore reducing its harmful emissions, the accessibility of products like phones and cars has also increased vastly, undermining such advancements.

Negatives of Modern Technology

The process of making devices such as phones and laptops is very taxing on our planet. Mineral mining to extract the materials that make them is an operation that requires a lot of energy from fossil fuels and water, as well as causing deforestation, land degradation and water pollution in order to carry it out. In manufacturing and later transporting this technology, further energy is needed which, again, sees an increase in carbon emissions - as does charging said devices from a non-renewable source.

Although much of the internet is becoming ‘cloud based’, data centres which store, process and disseminate data play a significant role in increasing carbon emissions. Tech conglomerates Amazon, Google and Microsoft collectively own more than half of the world’s data centres to accommodate the high demand for cloud services and the amount of energy used by these centres doubles every four years, the fastest-growing carbon footprint of any area within the IT sector. This means that something as simple as sending an email can emit up to 19 grams of CO2.

Electronic Waste

Another environmental issue concerning technology is electronic waste. Industrial designer Brook Stevens invented the term ‘planned obsolescence’ in 1954, which has since become the mantra of most of the tech industry. This sees an encouragement of hyper-consumption through short product lifespans and the release of newer (supposedly better) models every year, increasing the disposal of older obsolete devices. 

Globally, there is $62.5 billion worth of electronic waste produced annually and, unfortunately, only ⅕ of it is formally recycled. In 2018, Apple admitted to slowing their older products through updates to force customers into buying their latest models. To combat this problem, the tech giants must convert to a circular economy but for now, the consumer can either donate their unwanted devices or repurpose them for singular, specific uses such as an alarm clock.

Environmental Technology

However, modern advancements in technology have allowed great innovation that aims to better the environment. An increase in the use of renewable energy has reduced our reliance on harmful fossil fuels, with it now producing 20% of the UK’s electricity. Electric cars have made travel possible without contributing to carbon emissions or air pollution. Furthermore, the pandemic has shown us how virtual meetings can replace the need for travelling to work or other gatherings. 

The Internet of Things (IoT) network interconnects internet devices through Bluetooth to be as efficient as possible through sensor technologies that enable ‘autonomous’ adjustments to be made in response to their environment. For example, new smart lighting systems can automatically switch on and off when necessary, reducing wasted energy. 

What can you do?

Ultimately, the relationship between the environment and technology is convoluted, with pros and cons tightly intertwined together in a web that make it virtually impossible to be entirely ethical when using any product. The pressure to reduce the negative impact of technology lies mostly with the large corporations to shift towards a more circular economy. However, it is still important for consumers to know that slight changes in their technology habits do play a role in looking after the environment. Something as simple as clearing your inbox can help. 

 

Technology is a key part of our lives, but that doesn’t mean it has to kill our planet too.

 

 

 
 
 

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