Global Citizenship | Technology, energy and climate change

Welcome to the Chapter: Technology, Energy, and Climate Change

Hello future Global Citizens! This is one of the most important chapters you will study, as it deals directly with the future of our planet.
We are going to explore how technology is not just causing problems (like pollution), but is also our greatest tool for solving the twin crises of energy demand and climate change.

Don't worry if some terms seem complicated—we will break down these huge global challenges into simple, clear steps. Let's find out how we can use clever technology to secure a sustainable future!

1. Reducing Demand: Energy-Saving Technologies

The quickest way to reduce our carbon footprint is not just to find new energy sources, but to use less energy in the first place. This is called
Energy Efficiency. It means getting the same result (a warm room, a lit street) but using far fewer resources.

A. Energy-Efficient Appliances and Buildings

Think of energy efficiency like fixing a leaky bucket: before you fill it up with new, clean water (renewable energy), you need to make sure the bucket isn't wasting what you already have.

• In Homes (Appliances): Modern appliances are designed to use less power. Look for energy ratings (A+++). Simple changes, like switching old incandescent bulbs to
  LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), drastically cuts energy use, as LEDs convert most energy into light, not wasted heat.


• In Buildings: Technology allows us to design "smarter" buildings.
  • Insulation: Materials like high-quality window glazing and dense wall insulation prevent heat escaping in winter (or entering in summer), meaning heating and cooling systems run less often.
  • Smart Thermostats: These devices learn when you need heating and turn off automatically when you leave, saving wasted energy.
• In Towns (Smart Grids): Using technology to manage the flow of electricity across a large area. A smart grid balances supply and demand better, meaning less energy is wasted or unnecessarily generated.

2. The Energy Switch: New Technologies to Replace Fossil Fuels

For centuries, we have relied on burning fossil fuels (oil, coal, gas). To stop climate change, we must switch to cleaner,
Renewable Energy Sources.

A. Solar Power (The Sun’s Energy)

Solar panels (photovoltaic cells) convert sunlight directly into electricity.

• Benefits: It is infinitely renewable and produces zero greenhouse gas emissions during operation.
• Challenges/Local Issues:
  • Intermittency: It only works when the sun is shining (not at night or during heavy cloud cover). This requires expensive battery storage technology.
  • Land Use: Large solar farms require significant amounts of land, potentially competing with agriculture or natural habitats.

B. Wind Power (Harnessing Air Movement)

Wind turbines capture the kinetic energy of the wind and convert it into electricity.

• Benefits: Very clean operationally. Offshore wind farms, in particular, can generate massive amounts of power.
• Challenges/Local Issues:
  • Visual Pollution: Many people dislike the appearance of large turbines, especially in natural landscapes.
  • Noise: Turbines can generate noise, which leads to local opposition (often called NIMBY – Not In My Back Yard).
  • Intermittency: Like solar, wind generation is unreliable; it stops when the wind is too low or too high.

C. Nuclear Power (Splitting Atoms)

Nuclear power plants use the process of nuclear fission to create intense heat, which generates steam to power turbines.

• Benefits: Produces vast amounts of power reliably (it is not intermittent). It produces almost no greenhouse gases during operation.
• Challenges/Local Issues:
  • Safety and Disaster Risk: Accidents (like Chernobyl or Fukushima) can have catastrophic long-term consequences, affecting local communities, land, and international relations.
  • Waste Disposal: Nuclear fuel rods remain dangerously radioactive for thousands of years. Safely storing this
    Radioactive Waste is extremely expensive and controversial, often involving deep burial sites that face local protests.
  • High Start-up Cost: Building a nuclear plant is very expensive and takes many years.

3. Technologies to Tackle and Adapt to Climate Change

Since we are already experiencing climate change, technology is needed in two ways:
1. Mitigation: Technologies designed to slow down or stop climate change.
2. Adaptation: Technologies designed to help us live with the effects of climate change.

A. Mitigation Technology: Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

CCS is a technology designed to prevent CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere, primarily from large industrial sources like power stations or cement factories.

How CCS works (Step-by-Step):

1. Capture: Special chemicals or filters "scrub" the carbon dioxide out of the exhaust fumes before they leave the chimney stack.
2. Transport: The captured CO2 is compressed into a liquid and transported via pipelines.
3. Storage: The liquid CO2 is injected deep underground into porous rock formations or beneath the seabed, trapping it permanently.

Did you know? CCS is still very expensive and energy-intensive. Critics worry that relying on CCS distracts from the need to switch entirely to renewables.

B. Adaptation Technology: Dealing with the Effects

Climate change is causing more extreme weather events, higher sea levels, and droughts. Adaptation technologies help protect communities and infrastructure.

• Flood Barriers and Sea Walls: These are physical technologies used to protect coastal areas and low-lying cities from rising sea levels and storm surges.
  Example: The Thames Barrier in London protects the city from tidal flooding.


• Water Management: Technologies like desalination plants (turning seawater into fresh water) and advanced irrigation systems help regions cope with increased drought.


• Early Warning Systems: Using sophisticated satellite and computing technology to predict and warn citizens about heatwaves, floods, or severe storms, allowing communities time to prepare.

Final Chapter Summary

Technology plays a triple role in addressing global energy and climate challenges:

1. Efficiency: Using technology to cut down the total amount of energy we need (e.g., smart appliances).
2. Generation: Developing new, clean energy sources to replace fossil fuels (e.g., solar, wind, nuclear), while managing the challenging local issues they create.
3. Response: Creating technologies both to mitigate the problem (like CCS) and to adapt to its unavoidable consequences (like flood barriers).

As global citizens, understanding these technologies allows us to advocate for effective policies and make informed consumer choices. Well done! You’ve mastered this vital link between technology and the environment.