Too few companies prioritise climate change. The long-term effects of industrialisation and manufacturing have led to rising temperatures, droughts, and flooding, triggering considerable enterprise disruptions. Moreover, these extreme weather events are pretty unpredictable, as seasons are not that easy to foretell anymore.
The road to resilience is paved with numerous challenges but also opportunities. We’ve got all the technology necessary to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), from using software to improve industries and infrastructure to online apps through which citizens find decent work and contribute to economic growth.
So, let’s see how different human areas can be improved through technological developments.
Smart city technologies
Smart cities are focused on improving people’s quality of life through technology and data collection. Examples of such smart cities are found in Norway, Switzerland, and Denmark, where they use:
- IoT devices to improve urban accessibility and mobility, as well as increase energy efficiency. These devices monitor facilities to provide real-time data on the area’s condition. In Oslo, we find the Oslo Smart Street Lighting project through which light intensity can be adjusted automatically;
- Intelligent energy through solar and wind power. In Copenhagen, the EnergyLab Nordhavn reduces the need for the heating circuit while testing large batteries that decrease peak load on the grid;
- Smart buildings through sensors inside buildings connected with mobile apps through which energy and maintenance are adjusted;
Waste reduction
Waste reduction is one of the most important methods of managing climate change. Sustainable cities and companies know the need for balers and waste compactors that save space, which is needed considering the amount of space landfills take. For example, specific solutions like Mil-tek A101 are ideal for cans and metal food containers that help reduce hazardous waste.
Smart waste management can also be achieved through recycling robots, which can be programmed to distinguish between materials and recycle fast and properly. At the same time, AI robots can operate 24/7, which would help decrease the amount of waste ending up in landfills.
Other waste reduction solutions include:
- Pneumatic waste pipe systems;
- Solar-powered trash compactors;
- Recycling apps;
Data-driven farming
Traditional farming has become considerably detrimental to the environment. It is the leading source of pollution across the globe. Toxic pesticides and fertilisers poison near fresh water and affect the air and soil quality for future generations.
However, we could change that by adequately introducing technology such as data-driven crop management and automated farming equipment to conserve resources and reduce the impact on the environment. In addition, the use of temperature and moisture sensors, aerial images, and GPS technology can decrease the use of water and increase crop productivity.
In the future, technology will allow farmers to use new spaces, such as urban rooftops and indoor growing systems, while fighting pests, diseases, and extreme weather events.
Sustainable transportation
Transportation is another factor contributing to climate change, considering that most greenhouse gases come from vehicles’ fuel. The planet’s atmosphere is rapidly warming due to the build-up of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, which is why renewable fuels are more demanded than ever.
Transportation is necessary to human life, which is why technological solutions like electric vehicles powered by batteries or hydrogen can slow down the heating world. Autonomous driving, ride-sharing, and mass transit systems could also become the future of transportation, as experts are already studying the benefits of connecting vehicles to intelligent transportation systems.
Traffic and the weather are also essential factors affecting transportation, so IoT sensors, cameras, and mobile devices will be used to gather data and improve the industry.
Clean energy
The unsustainable consumption of finite energy resources is slowly taking us toward an energy crisis, so worldwide forces must unite all their resources to shift toward lean energy. Currently, there are four pillars we should focus on:
- Carbon capture systems that can remove it from the atmosphere;
- Advanced batteries that will electrify end-use sectors;
- Hydrogen and related fuels that don’t lead to greenhouse gas emissions;
- Bioenergy that ensures energy security;
Currently, we’re leveraging clean energy resources from solar, wind, and water the most, but geothermal, bioenergy, and nuclear systems are also popular. Solar panels, electric cars, and wind turbines are not new on the market, but they’re scarce compared to how much we need them.
Challenges in adopting sustainability in tech
Unfortunately, despite all the resources and education, society still struggles to fully leverage technology for eco-friendly purposes. For example, the current most significant barrier represents the high upfront costs of adopting green technologies, considering they’re still new. Therefore, not all countries can contribute to adoption, especially underdeveloped and developing countries, where all the landfill material ends up anyway.
Secondly, the introduction of green technologies requires updated systems and architectures. Sadly, too many companies find themselves working with outdated technologies and systems, so navigating all the data and processes would strain productivity. Therefore, we must wait until we’re pushed again by external events to evolve our technological methods.
Finally, the biggest challenge may be public acceptance and resistance to change. It may be difficult for nations to change their ways, especially if they’ve been reluctant to technological advancements. At the same time, mitigating sustainability and technology has failed nations many times, as the lack of clarifications and greenwashing hasn’t been convincing.
We need better plans to push for eco-friendly systems and technologies, as climate change affects our health, environment, and wildlife. As long as people understand that over-consumption isn’t the solution to wealth and companies change their approaches regarding manufacturing, we could harness the power of software and hardware solutions toward the common good.
Do you believe in the power of technology?
Climate change has become one of humanity’s biggest problems, as years of rapid industrialisation have led to unprecedented levels of consumption and waste. Worldwide industries affect air and soil quality, so it seems like the slow end of a healthy generation. Luckily, we’ve got technology on our side, and we can leverage it for good change. IoT devices can make cities smart by saving electricity, data collection can help crop management, and clean energies will stop the reliance on gas fuel.
