Some people expect that technology will solve the most critical global environmental issues. While technology will undoubtedly play a significant role in addressing these problems, I believe solutions must also involve a broader social movement.
To be sure, environmentally friendly technology has already shown great promise for its ability to tackle global issues. For example, it is now fairly common to see hybrid and fully electric vehicles on the road. The environmental impact of these technologies, at least in my city, has been noticeable. Where I live, air-quality continues to improve. Each year my state reports that we are getting closer and closer to achieving our goal of 100% renewable energy production, all thanks to new clean technologies. These innovations show that, indeed, technical innovation can directly address some of the world’s most pressing environmental problems.
However, in many areas, new technologies are not developing or spreading rapidly enough to resolve critical environmental issues. In these situations, the only immediate solution is for people to work collectively by changing behaviors that damage the environment. For example, consider the alarming amount of plastic particles in the world’s oceans. Some technological solutions to this problem are currently in development. I have read about a large sea “vacuum” and even genetically modified animals that can eat plastic. Yet, these solutions may not solve the ocean-plastic problem before it’s too late for ocean ecosystems. Instead, more cities, businesses, and households will need to take steps to limit everyday plastic use. Some grocery stores no longer use plastic bags, for example. Some families choose to use reusable containers for food instead of single-use plastic ones. Changes like these must be adopted by a very large number of people to have a real impact because technological remedies are not yet available.
In conclusion, while we should continue to seek technological solutions to environmental problems, these innovations cannot sufficiently address them all. People must work together, on a large scale, to address the most serious issues we face as well.
Some
people
expect
that
technology
will solve the most critical global
environmental
issues
. While
technology
will
undoubtedly
play a significant role in addressing these
problems
, I believe
solutions
must
also
involve a broader social movement.
To be sure,
environmentally
friendly
technology
has already shown great promise for its ability to tackle global
issues
.
For example
, it is
now
fairly
common to
see
hybrid and
fully
electric vehicles on the road. The
environmental
impact of these
technologies
, at least in my city, has been noticeable. Where I
live
, air-quality continues to
improve
. Each year my state reports that we are getting closer and closer to achieving our goal of 100% renewable energy production, all thanks to new clean
technologies
. These innovations
show
that,
indeed
, technical innovation can
directly
address
some
of the world’s most pressing
environmental
problems.
However
, in
many
areas, new
technologies
are not developing or spreading
rapidly
enough
to resolve critical
environmental
issues
. In these situations, the
only
immediate
solution
is for
people
to work
collectively
by changing behaviors that damage the environment.
For example
, consider the alarming amount of
plastic
particles in the world’s oceans.
Some
technological
solutions
to this
problem
are
currently
in development. I have read about a large sea “vacuum” and even
genetically
modified animals that can eat
plastic
.
Yet
, these
solutions
may not solve the ocean-plastic
problem
before
it’s too late for ocean ecosystems.
Instead
, more cities, businesses, and households will need to take steps to limit everyday
plastic
use
.
Some
grocery stores no longer
use
plastic
bags,
for example
.
Some
families choose to
use
reusable containers for food
instead
of single-
use
plastic
ones.
Changes
like these
must
be adopted
by a
very
large number of
people
to have a real impact
because
technological remedies are not
yet
available.
In conclusion
, while we should continue to seek technological
solutions
to
environmental
problems
, these innovations cannot
sufficiently
address them all.
People
must
work together, on a large scale, to address the most serious
issues
we face
as well
.