TECHNOLOGY

Although technology has been pivotal to humanity’s survival and growth on the planet, the wrong application of our technological knowledge, exploitative behavior of humans as the supposed “top boys” of the food chain, and ecological egoism have disrupted the “stable climate” described by naturalist David Attenborough to have given “birth to civilization”. According to the World Health Organization, between 2030 and 2050, it is projected Although technology has been pivotal to humanity’s survival and growth on the planet, the wrong application of our technological knowledge, exploitative behavior of humans as the supposed “top boys” of the food chain, and ecological egoism have disrupted the “stable climate” described by naturalist David Attenborough to have given “birth to civilization”. According to the World Health Organisation, between 2030 and 2050, it is projected that around 250,000 additional deaths per year will result from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress as global temperature continues to rise. In the same vein, environmental experts warn that the climate crisis is triggering mass displacement of human settlement, especially in coastal areas, while extreme weather and environmental degradation are contributing to the wastage of nearly a third of food grown.

The first argument for innovation and innovative technologies revolves around the problem of scarcity of resources and how it can be adequately addressed. It is common knowledge that human wants surpass the resources to fulfill them, and this lack has provoked competition and wastage, rather than cooperation and efficiency. Where there has been less conflict over resource ownership, concerns about resource depletion and their non-renewable nature have been paramount. By adopting technology and circular economy thinking, alternatives can be developed to ensure availability, while natural resources are preserved. A good example is the use of renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and biofuels to provide electricity and the positives such innovation holds in the quest to fast-track decarbonization and improve quality of life.

Another important argument is that sustainable technology will create more meaningful and inclusive work opportunities. In a 2019 article, Stears Business – a Nigerian economic business publication – established the nexus between crude-oil dominance and the diminishing of women’s role in the economy in Nigeria. By creating the right technologies there would be a democratization of access to inclusive economic opportunities, and the availability of more jobs would open the labour market to women and marginalized groups. Based on the International Labour Organisation (ILO) projections, a greener economy could create 24 million new jobs globally by 2030 which would mean better per capita GDP and improvement in some of the key development indices.

CONCLUSION 

^{My view is that the difference between what can be achieved by integrating these nature-friendly solutions into our production activities and lifestyles, and the current reality of worrisome carbon footprints is the lack of political willpower and misplaced incentives that exist on a macro scale. This issue must be addressed and policies to drive a top-to-bottom implementation of the climate agenda is key. From a micro and individual person perspective, there is the need for greater awareness of what the stakes are when non-renewable resources are depleted and why we must take more responsibility for our future.}