Today, technology has become an integral part of all spheres of our life – from birth to retirement. Through the use of low-cost resources and human labor, world technology giants produce more and more products. However, the use of these products is unevenly distributed throughout the world, whereas human needs continue to grow. This paper aims to discuss the most significant environmental threats, while also considering the contribution of each person to worsening or preventing dramatic consequences.
Technology continues to develop, in particular, medical technology, which ensures a further increase in life expectancy in advanced economies. It is undoubtedly a positive effect of world progress since an increase in life expectancy indicates an improvement in the quality of life. On the other hand, this process is uneven, and the quality of life improves only in countries with developed economies, while in less developed countries, the quality of life is rapidly deteriorating (Huo, Lei, Zhang, Zhao, & He, 2012). Peoples and states influenced by more economically influential countries become slaves of economic progress. Local governments do not protest, as corruption flourishes everywhere.
Thus, the question arises whether it is worth using technologies only because there is such an opportunity. For example, China produces a vast amount of products while continuing to accumulate wealth, but still, it does not contribute much to the well-being of people. Besides, since China is the largest coke producer in the world, it is also one of the world leaders in coal emissions (Huo et al., 2012). Emissions contribute to global warming, the effects of which include abrupt temperature spikes that lead to hurricanes, floods, and rising oceans. Climate change is also causing forest fires, which kill wildlife, such as the recent fire in Australia. Therefore, state and world regulation should be introduced, which will allow to distinguish the necessary production from excessive and stop the consumption boom.
Thus the environmental threats were discussed, and the human factor was analyzed. There is an urgent need to introduce state and global regulation to manage the issue of excessive production and stop the consumerism trends. It will create the prerequisites for the formation of a more conscious and freer society, where some countries will not dominate over others due to their more favorable economic situation, or at least will reduce such effects.
References
Huo, H., Lei, Y., Zhang, Q., Zhao, L., & He, K. (2012). China’s coke industry: Recent policies, technology shift, and implication for energy and the environment. Energy Policy, 51, 397–404.