Technological Environmental Change Brooke Sturgis and carlie krEutzer

Intro Technological innovation powered the economic expansion that began after World War II Even within developed nations, postwar technological innovations did not benefit all classes, industries, and regions equally Population growth and increased levels of migration and urbanization multiplied in numbers of acres farmed and factories, intensifying environmental threats

World economy Increase in industrial productivity, reduced labor requirements, and improved market efficiency New electronics developed rapidly Vinyl records, CDs, MP3 Computers became faster and less expensive Because of these advancements, the speed of news and data accelerated at an unanticipated rate, transforming business, education, and politics globally

Transnational corporation The primary agent for technological advancements The fast rate of advancements allowed them to invest directly in the mines, plantations, and public utilities of less developed regions Many companies became transnational and international trade agreements and open markets furthered the process Example of this is Ford, Nissan, BMW and many other car companies

Computers evolving In the 1960s, the internet was the second key to the communication revolution.   In the 1970s, most computing was done on large and expensive mainframe computers.  In the last decade, new technologies have permitted the integration of previously distinct devices.  One result of these technological revolutions is the appearance of plugged-in, self-identifying communities in venues like blogs or social media that supplement older forms of community based on ethnic, regional, or economic identities. 

Developing world Industrial activity increased much more rapidly than the population grew, and the consumption of energy rose proportionally The consumer-driven economic expansion of the post-World War II years became an obstacle to addressing environmental problems, since modern economies depend on an excessive consumption of goods and resources When consumption slows, industrial nations enter a recession An example of this was in 2008 with the destruction of Brazil’s virgin rain forest showing the threat to the environment caused by population growth

Population growth Since 1945 population growth has been most dramatic in the developing countries, where environmental pressures have been extreme Erosion and water pollution were an effect of the demand to expand food production because of the rapid deforestation and extension of farming that came with it Many poor nations sought to stimulate industrialization because they believed that the transition from agriculture to manufacturing was the only way to provide for the rapidly growing populations

Responding to Environmental threats There were many successful efforts to preserve and protect the environment that were passed in the U.S. in the 1970s as part of an environmental effort that included the European Community and Japan. The Clean Air Act The Clean Water Act The Endangered Species Act Political movements and the media encouraged environmental awareness, and most nations in the developed world enforced strict antipollution laws and sponsored massive recycling efforts.

Results of Environmental Efforts Smog levels in the United States fell nearly a third from 1970 to 2000, even though the number of automobiles increased more than 80%. Pollution controls on automobiles, planes and factory smokestacks reduced harmful emissions. The Great Lakes, Long Island Sound, and Chesapeake Bay were all much cleaner at the beginning of the 2000s than they had been in 1970. Since the 1990s, the rapid expansion of China's industrial sector was well as industrial growth in other developing nations like India and Brazil has put additional pressure on the environment.

All in all *you are my strength when I am weak* Growing population and the developmental process have forced marginal lands into production and stimulated the exploitation of new resources. As the world's population surpassed 6 billion and the largest cities reached 20 million, the need to produce raw materials and finished goods put tremendous tress on the environment. New technologies and the wealth produced by economic expansion have allowed the world's richest nations to implement ambitious programs of environmental protection.

Critical thinking Question Do you think modern technology is benefiting or damaging the environment?