Technological Development
Description
Technology has changed our life drastically all through the ages. It made possible for us to do something which was impossible in the past. Can we expect that technology will solve every problem in terms of sustainability? Hybrid engine cars are expected to reduce CO2 emission significantly, and electronic products become more and more energy efficient. Further research about carbon capture and storage is progressing as well. Advance in technology will definitely affect positively on sustainability. However, Carbon Mitigation Initiative states that we cannot rely on only technological advancement, and need to adopt other ways such as renewable energies and new regulation in order to decrease CO2 emission.
High technology have become available for many people and given us a life of affluent. Children in poor families could have got laptop which is regarded as a cause of educational and income gap due to One Laptop per Child project. An Indian car manufacturing company, Tata motors, introduced Nano last year. This will help people with low income to have a better life. In contrast, increase in the number of car will accelerate global warming, and we have to think all these complicated issues as a whole.
Enablers
1. People’s interest
Favorable business condition can call risk money which expects higher return to companies. This risk money help companies increase R&D expense.
2. Favorable business condition
Favorable business condition can call risk money which expects higher return to companies. This risk money help companies increase R&D expense.
3. Education
In order to supply efficient researchers, higher education is required.
Inhibitors
1. People’s attitude to seek for higher profit
This attitude will develop technology, but it can drive technology to a wrong way. If we seek really efficient and profitable technology, it may not be sustainable technology. Nuclear power station is efficient to generate electric, and reduce CO2 emission, but this technology is controversial. A similar characteristic of technology may be invented.
2. Recession
Slowdown in economic growth will accompany with reduction of R&D expense, and cancel of research projects.
Paradigms
Timing
Due to Annual Review 2008 by IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D,
=Experts
International Energy Agency
http://www.iea.org/Textbase/subjectqueries/keyresult.asp?KEYWORD_ID=4120
Reference
Stabilization Wedges: Solving the Climate Problem for the next 50 Years with Current Technologies
http://www.princeton.edu/~cmi/resources/stabwedge.htm
IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme
http://www.ieagreen.org.uk/index.htm
One Laptop per child
http://laptop.org/en/index.shtml
Tata Nano