Act: Inspiration

Hello Humanity, it’s me, Technology. We need to talk.

August 8, 2017

Like me, you might have a love-hate relationship with technology. I appreciate the conveniences and comforts it can afford, and I rely on it for my work. Heck, it’s how I’m communicating with you now. But I also wonder about the impacts technology has on my personal health and my relationships. From time to time, these issues appear in mainstream media, in conversations among friends, and even in studies by academic organizations.

But strangely, we rarely consider the negative impacts of technology on our most profound social and environmental problems, like climate change, overpopulation, and biodiversity loss. Many people (even if only on a subconscious level) are waiting for technology to rush in like a superhero to vanquish these crises and lead the way to a sustainable future.

But technology won’t be our great green savior, at least not without first wrestling with the tough moral dilemmas of our time. In a new manifesto, #NoApp4That, I question the pervasive belief that technology alone will save us.

You can start by watching the short animation Post Carbon Institute created with some Oscar Award-winning animators, and then dive a little deeper by reading the manifesto.

I hope these resources can spur open and realistic conversations about technology’s role in addressing the converging crises of the 21st century.

Richard Heinberg

Richard is Senior Fellow of Post Carbon Institute, and is regarded as one of the world’s foremost advocates for a shift away from our current reliance on fossil fuels. He is the author of fourteen books, including some of the seminal works on society’s current energy and environmental sustainability crisis. He has authored hundreds of essays and articles that have appeared in such journals as Nature and The Wall Street Journal; delivered hundreds of lectures on energy and climate issues to audiences on six continents; and has been quoted and interviewed countless times for print, television, and radio. His monthly MuseLetter has been in publication since 1992. Full bio at postcarbon.org.

Tags: building resilient societies, Technology