The intensive development of information technologies in the modern world affects almost all spheres of human life. In this regard, humanity is faced with the beginning of a new phase of its development – a global information society. Such change, in turn, provides for the implementation of certain transformations in the economic, social, political, legal, cultural structure of society in each country.
The experience of the developed countries of the world and numerous studies in this area indicate that transformation processes provide an opportunity for increasing the competitiveness of the national economy. In addition, the solution of various social problems, improvement of the state of the environment, etc. can also be achieved.
In this article, we will consider how technology is helping us restore our planet and what are the positive effects of technology on the environment.
How Can Technology Help the Environment: Possibilities of Using Modern Technological Tools
Powerful technological tools help humanity in saving the environment and solving climate goals. According to software quality assurance service experts, this includes artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain technology, geographic mapping, etc. Climate and resource target organizations use these advanced tools as part of their strategies.
In today’s world, where the preservation of the environment and its resources has become a priority, it is important to use the digital revolution to ensure environmental sustainability. This can be done through the efficient use of both high-tech and low-tech solutions, as well as creating the right positive link between technology and the environment. Using the digital revolution, governments, corporations, and individuals can be empowered to adapt to environmentally sustainable practices. In addition, everyone can implement environmental policies in their own regular way of life.
Examples of the Positive Impact of Technology on the Environment
Several innovative environmental technologies appear every year. Some of them are ready to use, and some are at the prototype level. However, all these tools are connected by the desire to offer sustainable practices and solutions for the environment and to create a positive link between technology and the environment.
Consider below in detail what modern technologies create a positive impact on the environment.
Renewable Energy
Energy consumption is associated with all types of human economic activity: heating homes, cooking, traffic, industry, agricultural production, etc. The development of various energy reserves on a global scale has led to an unprecedented rise in living standards. Today, people are so dependent on energy that it is difficult to imagine how they would survive without it.
Energy sources are classified as follows:
- Fossil fuels (coal and oil shale, oil, natural gas);
- Nuclear and thermonuclear energy;
- Renewable energy resources (energy of water, wind, sun, geothermal, wood, peat, etc.).
Energy production significantly affects the state of the environment. Combustion of fossil solid and liquid fuels is accompanied by the release of sulfur, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide, etc. Open-cast coal mining, like peat mining, leads to changes in natural landscapes, and sometimes to their destruction. Spills of oil and oil products during production and transportation can destroy all living things in vast areas. Landscapes, flora, and fauna are not affected in the best way by the creation of infrastructure necessary for coal, oil, and gas production.
In this situation, the use of renewable energy sources should be considered the most rational solution. This has become possible due to the development of modern technologies. For example, modern wind power plants efficiently convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Wind farms do not pollute the air with chemicals and do make noise. Solar panels with elements that convert solar energy directly into electricity also help to preserve the environment.
Smart House Technologies
Ongoing urbanization processes pose certain risks for modern houses. This includes uncontrolled growth in consumption, problems with drinking water, green areas, environmental pollution. There is a need to reduce the emerging threats to biosystems, move to a sustainable nature of development, change the technological order, which will affect energy, transport, housing, and other areas. Smart house environment technology helps in this. They are based on global trends in technological progress. This implies digitalization, the emergence of big data as a tool for decision-making, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of things.
Electric Vehicles
One of the problems of urban areas is the change in the properties of the environment under the influence of motor transport. Motor transport as an industry related to the production, maintenance, and repair of cars has a negative impact on the environment:
- Firstly, it is related to the production of cars: high resource and energy intensity of the automotive industry, negative impact on the environment of the automotive industry;
- Secondly, fuel consumption and emissions, noise pollution;
- Thirdly, the alienation of land for highways, development of road transport infrastructure;
- Fourthly, the problem of recycling vehicles and used cars.
Thus, cars are air pollutants and also have a noise impact on the population.
The electric car is the most promising technology helping the environment. This car is environmentally friendly and economical. The electric car has no maintenance, oil change, replacement of worn parts. There are 2.5 times fewer components, fewer parts. There is no maintenance in the electric car. It is necessary to change the filters only after 30 thousand miles.
Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage
Direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS) is a relatively new technology for the environment. It allows removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Potentially, it can reduce the greenhouse effect. Depending on the combination of technologies used and the specific location, CO2 can be removed from the air with an efficiency of up to 97%. This definitely has a positive impact on the environment.
In conclusion, we should mention that the problem of restoring our planet is quite relevant. Today, there is great hope for positive environmental technologies, such as renewable energy, smart logistic, electric transport, etc. In fact, they can create rapid decarbonization of the planet and control its further damage. Our main concern is to create and promote positive technologies and test them in practice.
- Making a Positive Impact: How Tech is Helping Us Restore Our Planet - December 25, 2021
