We all know the way the population is increasing all over the world. Not only that, but people are also now living longer than they used to and there is no way to increase the resources that we have right now. The earth provides us with a limited number of resources and they are dwindling.
These are the main reasons why sustainable development has become so important nowadays and why everybody is talking about it. According to the projects that are bounded by the United Nations, by the time we enter 2100, there will be more than 10 billion people living on the planet we call Earth. This precipitous rise in population adds to the worries that almost all the experts are feeling right now.
How can we provide energy, food, and other necessary resources to all these people? The demand is continuously increasing and that is why there has been so much focus on sustainable development and the technology that can help us achieve it.
More and more people are doing research on this topic and learning as much as they can so that they can find out more and help out in any way possible. But there are still many out there who don’t know about sustainable technology and why it is so vital for a secure and sustainable future. That is why we are going to give you the reasons for the importance that is being given to sustainable technology and its development.
The Environment
The very first sign that something is wrong and that we have to change the way we live on this planet was the environment. The subtle and not so subtle changes that started emerging in the environment woke us up to the fact that things are changing—fast. These changes include:
- Climate change
- Worsening of the ozone layer
- Acid rains
- Dead zones in the ocean
- And many more.
There has been a lot of improvement in the conditions but still, a lot more has to be done. Even small steps like installing a 5kw solar system can help. There is still a lot that needs to be done for the air, land and water pollution that has been created by us. Not just on the individual level, but also on corporate and government levels, these things have to be taken seriously.
A lot of companies and governments are still not thinking of things like waste treatment and recycling and all of their waste is ending up in landfills or worse—the ocean. Some have taken up incineration, but as it takes care of the waste, it creates another problem that is air pollution.
The Energy
Let’s face it. We have limited energy resources. And the resources that we do have, have been used up to a great degree. Now is the time to come up with renewable energy resources because and if we don’t do that the lack of energy can become a devastating factor for all of us. That is why sustainable technology is so important.
If we don’t do it now, we might have to face the fact that there will be a time when our entire energy resources will be depleted and we won’t have any alternatives to it. There are a lot of renewable energy resources that we can use like biomass, solar, wind, water and thermal energies and people are taking an interest in it.
The Economy
Our entire economic structure depends on fuel. But a lot of companies around the world are convinced that becoming sustainable will cost them a lot of money and the customers will not pay for the increase in price. What they don’t understand is that if we do not come up with better and renewable resources, we might not have an economy left.
Becoming sustainable is not a luxury anymore; it is a necessity. The companies that will integrate their operations with sustainability will become more efficient, they will definitely increase their brand’s likeability, and they will become among the pioneers of innovation.
We need to understand these facts and become sustainable while we still can. There will come a time when being sustainable will not be an option anymore; it will be vital for a company’s growth and survival. We either make this decision ourselves or we will be made to take this decision by force as our options will become restricted.
What Does Sustainable Technology Include?
Now that we know why sustainable technology and its development is so important for us, let us see what technologies we can use to make our businesses, our lives, and our societies better. There are a lot of things that we can do to become sustainable at an individual level as well as every other level to protect our planet and our future.
Nanotechnology
This is one of the more recent technologies and it is quite promising for our future. It has the capabilities to affect various applications like clean energy, sustainable living, greenhouse gas management, and so much more. For example, scientists in India are trying to use nanotechnology to eradicate bacteria and other harmful microbes in drinking water. This is just the start as there is no telling just how much nanotechnology can help us.
Next-Generation Nuclear Power
We know that our fossil fuels are running out quickly. Moreover, using fossil fuels is hurting our environment like nothing else. The next-generation nuclear power ideas can really pull us out of this mess. This includes ideas like advanced fission reactors, pure hydrogen fusion and more.
Nuclear scientists are continuously trying to improve on this technology and conducting all sorts of research in this matter so that it can be easily harnessed and used for the betterment of society.
Biofuels
Another alternate to fossil fuels that scientists are currently working on is the biofuels like ethanol and biodiesels. Biodiesels are extracted from oils and fats as well as non-food sources like manure, algae, and other waste materials.
Conclusion
If we want to maintain our quality of life as well as our standards of living in the future and ensure that our next generations live peacefully and contently on this planet then we have to understand the reasons for this foray into sustainable technology and integrate it in our lives as much as we can—while we can.