Views on ecological sustainability remain controversial despite clear eco-optimist verses eco-pessimist stands. This is reflected on different perceptions on ecological metamorphosis from previous, current, and future time span. Generally, ecology has created heavy impact in the temporary society as the world turn into a global village.
These impacts generate macro and micro climate changes characterized by disasters such as floods. Ecological sustainability is the solution to future balance between nature and survival of mankind. Since childhood, conservation has been part of our family belief on environmental sustainability and this has had an impact on career choice. Thus, this reflective treatise address issues surrounding ecological sustainability in the following arguments.
As a matter of fact, standards of living in the contemporary society are much better than that in the previous century. Technology as part of ecological orientation has facilitated efficiency and better life. Despite numerous negative impacts human activities have introduced into the environment, technological advancement is still the most practical solution towards sustainability (Goklany 34).
To begin with, introduction of communication gadgets, social networking sites, efficient means of message delivery, and transportation have contributed positively towards cost cutting and knowledge acquisition. As a result, the world has forged a working relationship with the environment through introduction and implementation of policies on environment.
As technology progress, enhanced knowledge has necessitated the need for behavior change, adaptation of greener sources of energy, and production of green goods. For instance, introduction of the hybrid cars and other machines in the market aim at reducing the magnitude of carbon dioxide emission to sustainable levels. These green products are produced from the outcome of technological research policies designed to create a balance between production and consumption habits of mankind.
Despite the side effects of some of the instruments used in health environment, introduction of antibiotics, x-rays, and respirators among others have made life bearable and saved resources and lives. Besides, the genetically modification of food production has had unequivocal positive impact in fighting hunger and maintaining sufficient food security for the world population.
For instance, technological advancement such as agricultural biotechnology proliferation, genetic engineering, and research has evolved into practical solutions against hunger and starvation.
In addition, population explosion is a serious environmental challenge on survival of humanity in the future (Graedel and Allenby 56). At present, the population grows arithmetically as the food production increases geometrically, that is, food production increases only as a portion of the population growth rate. As technological environment advance, invention of an automated crop/food control and production system that would serve the increasing population is within reach.
Moreover, this system would facilitate production of green housing units that are affordable and friendly to the ecological system (Lomborg 54). Reflectively, technological advancement is a factor of human behavior response to environmental challenges facilitated by unplanned activities. Everyday, the media reports diverse effects of global warming on the face of planet Earth.
These effects are associated with the prevalent occurrence of large scale disasters and calamities ranging from hurricanes, flooding, to desertification. However, solutions to these challenges lie within the brackets of controlled technological innovations which are friendly to the environment (European Commission 32). Therefore, it is in order to affirm that technological transition is only a component of the larger ecological indicator that determines the affluence and definability of equivalent development levels.
Arguably, environmental problems are contributed by social human behaviors and habits and might not be fully solved by technological approach. Thus, a properly formulated change in attitude and consumption habits might be the sustainable solution to future food security when aligned towards natural sustainability.
This mix is achievable when food distribution, energy consumption, and production are harmoniously attached to ecological capacity building calculus. In the process, technological know-how only become useful in facilitating resource allocation, preservation, and optimal use for sustainability (Lovelock 22). Therefore, corollary of this projection on future of sustainability is independent of technology on the facet of affluence and time despite simultaneous functionality (Nordhaus 16).
On the magnitude of influence, technology has affected ecology in positive and negative ways. When properly balanced, a middle ground result is achievable when technology embraces the immediate need for sustainability. Generally, technology cannot quantify adoptive capacity or account for the mess human activities have created on the environment.
However, it is important to note that technology has made food more affordable despite the challenging economic climate. Challenges brought about by technological emancipation can be solved by applying ecological modification in terms of changes in consumption patterns, behavior, and policy formulation.
Conclusively, in the cycle of progress, that is, the mix between ecology and technology, ecology is of greater essence than technological influence. Ecology determines the mortality rates, poverty, malnutrition and hunger, and life expectancy. In fact, sustainability revolves around consistent transitional ecological tools which facilitate technological development and the quality of the environment in the long-term.
Ecological regulation maintains accelerated momentum of imperative economic efficiency. Since ecological sustainability is largely influenced by behavior change, the impacts are simple and easily adoptable irrespective of cultural systems existing in the society. This approach might be the most cost effective and friendly towards future sustainability at micro and macro levels when properly balanced and embraced by the surging population.
Works Cited
Goklany, Indur. The Improving State of the World. Washington, DC: Cato Institute, 2007. Print.
Graedel, T and Allenby, B. Industrial Ecology. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1995. Print.
Lomborg, Brian. Global Crises, Global Solutions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004. Print.
Lovelock, James. The Vanishing Face of Gaia. New York: Basic Books, 2009. Print.
Nordhaus, Walton. A Question of Balance: Weighing the Options on Global Warming Policies. Yale: Yale University Press, 2008. Print.
The Kyoto protocol – A brief summary. European Commission, 18 Oct, 2010. Web.