1. The Myth of Technology and Sustainable Development
Dennis Meadows
Uppsalla University

2. Two Possible Futures
Future #1
Future #2
1900
2000
2100
Year

3. One Indicator of Overshoot
Year of
Original
Report
Today

4. Problem
Technical Solution
Oil depletion
Solar energy production, nuclear power, fracking
Hunger
Genetically modified food crops
Pollution
Cleaner production techniques
Terrorism
Surveillance methods
Water scarcity
Desalinization, Larger pumps, drip irrigation
Sea level rise
Higher sea walls

5. I do understand technology:
BA in chemistry
Chemist for the Atomic Energy Commission.
Researcher within NASA’s Program on the Management of Science and Technology.
PhD from MIT specializing in the management of innovation.
Tenured professor of engineering
Research scientist in Norway, Netherlands, and Austria.
Director for several new high-tech firms

6. The Four Fallacies
Technology change can be separated from social change.
Technology change alone will permit continued growth in population and consumption.
The market and democracy will choose the correct technology.
Growth in real wealth is still possible.

7. First Fallacy
Technology change can be separated from social change.

8. Question
I have two pens. Which of them is more sustainable?

9. The two pens
Montblanc
Sundance

10. The Montblanc Pen I use it for writing.
It is made from platinum and precious resin.
It cost about € 250. 10

11. The Sundance Pen I use it for writing.
It is made from wood, plastic, and recycled cardboard.
It cost about € 0.50. 11

12. Which pen is more sustainable?
Refer to the Montblanc as pen #1; refer to the Sundance as pen #2.
Please decide which pen you think is more sustainable and show either 1 or 2 fingers silently to the person sitting next to you.

13. More Information
I never take the Montblanc pen out of my office, so I will use it the rest of his life and then pass it on to a relative.
I loses the Sundance pen almost every time I take it away from my home, so I have to buy many dozens of them each year.
When the Montblanc pen ink cartridge becomes empty, I buy a refill.
If I still have the Sundance pen when its ink cartridge becomes empty, I throw the pen away and buy a new one.

14. I will ask again: Which pen is more sustainable?
Refer to the Montblanc as pen #1; refer to the Sundance as pen #2.
Please decide which pen you think is more sustainable and show either 1 or 2 fingers silently to the person sitting next to you.

15. Main Lessons Many votes changed after the new information.
The new information did not describe the pens’ physical technology; it described my relationship, habits, and attitudes toward the pens.
Sustainability is not mainly in the physical technology of the tool, it is in a person’s relationship to the tool.
New technology will not make society more sustainable, unless it is accompanied by appropriate social changes. 15

16. Second Fallacy
Technology change alone will permit continued growth in population and consumption.

17. CO2 Concentration

18. World Population

19. Industrial Production

20. Four Factors Determine the Amount of CO2 Emissions
© Dennis Meadows; 2007

21. Third Fallacy
The market and democracy will choose the correct technology.

22. Easy Problems Action #1 Desired Actual Better -------> Action #2
Now
Future
Next Evaluation

23. Difficult Problems Action #1 Action #2 Desired Better ------->
Actual
Now
Future
Next Evaluation

24. Fourth Fallacy
Growth in real wealth is still possible.

27. The Easy Oil is Gone Oil discoveries peaked in 1960s.
Every year since 1984 oil consumption has exceeded oil discovery.
In 2009 discoveries were about 5 billion barrels (bb); consumption was about 31 bb.
Of the world’s 20 largest oil fields, 18 were discovered ; 2 in the 1970s; 0 since.

28. Global Oil Production is Nearing the End of its Plateau% % %
- data from the International Statistical Supplement – 2010 edition, International Energy Agency, p. 18
• – 50%*
* Projection from Crude Oil – The Supply Outlook, Energy Watch Group, Feb 2008, p. 12.