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.

4. Policy

International sustainable schemes such as the Kyoto scheme would promote the technology development. Subsidy policy for green technology and green products would also be a strong source of the development. Challenging reduction targets which may be determined in COP15 in December 2009 would be an another spark for the advanced technology.

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. Recession also makes it difficult for governments to enact subsidy policy for green technology.

3. Oil price A decrease in oil price would lower the motivation of people and corporations to utilize alternative energy and consequently, it could set back the technology development plan.

4. Policy Passive political attitudes toward a sustainable society would be an obstacle in advancing the technology.

Paradigms

Technology can be the biggest wedge to stop global warming.

Timing

Due to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, CO2 emissions must be reduced by 50% to 85% by 2050. In order to achieve this target, not only greater energy efficiency, but also all possible measures including renewables, nuclear power, and CO2 capture and storage must be deployed. United Nation Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009, COP15, where new target reductions for each country and the post Kyoto schemes after 2012 will be determined would also be a key event.

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

http://tatanano.inservices.tatamotors.com/tatamotors/