6GEO3 Unit 3 Contested Planet

The Technological Fix

 What is this topic about?
This is a summative topic for all of the Contested
Planet module
A technological fix is an innovation that can be used
to solve a problem facing humans. Tools, machines and
systems allow us to control nature and improve quality
of life. Removal of technology, however temporarily,
can lead to crises.
We have increasingly become dependant on new
technology, but there are both positive and negative
aspects to its use. An attitudinal fix may also be
necessary , involving changes in peoples perception
and personal actions about a problem .
The geography of technology involves investigating
why there inequality in access to technology on a
global and local scale.
Technology and development looks at how far
technology determines development and resource use
Lastly, you will evaluate the role of technology in the
future management of the contested planets
environment.
 CONTENTS
1. The geography of technology
2. Technology and development
3. 3 Technology, environment and the
future

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 1. The geography of technology:

Why do we need technology ?

Is technology causing the planets problems?
Can it help solve them?
What else is needed?

The 2003 publication 2030 Spike: Countdown to

Global Catastrophe by Colin Mason
stated we must act decisively, collectively and
immediately about:
Shortages of fossil fuels
Global population growth -near 8 billion and
rapidly increasing in some areas
Persistent poverty - 1.1 billion will be living on
less than $1 per day in 2011
Climate change- possible 1-2c warming by
2030
Water shortages -by 2030, people may have
access to 30% less water
Rising food insecurity and possibly famine
Land degradation and persistent pollution
 Types of technological fix

This diagram categorises the types of technological fix, and introduces mini Energy Security
examples you will learn about either in this topic or the other 5 topics in
Contested Planet
Geo engineering
Appropriate Micro Nano & Bio
High technology Civil technology technology
planetary scale
engineering, largely
appropriate to e.g. ICT Water conflicts
Tech local level of
engineering
mobiles
e.g. Green
Revolution
untested e.g. space
mirrors
e.g. Cities,
skills, income, banking methods +
dams, wind
May be both knowledge but farms
internet GM products
may be higher
community tech e.g. wind Alternative Biodiversity under threat
based bottom up radio, technology to
up and top laptops, traditional
mobiles for methods e.g.
down from Grameen banks biodiesel
governments NB Some technologies Bridging the Development Gap
Intermediate cross categories,
technology easily
Low mastered by locals
hence overlaps shown
on the diagram
e.g. pumpkin
Tech tanks, jiko stoves

Labour Capital
Intensive Intensive
Superpower geographies
NB role of Leapfrogging technology where new technology
is introduced without a legacy, e.g. mobile phones do not
need pre existing landlines.
 Technological lifecycles

All technology has a life cycle

As cost falls the product sales Life cycles have become shorter
grow
Until newer and better
over time.
New technologies have technology is introduced and The speed of technological
a distinct life cycle affordable change has increased.
P
Decline begins when better
o technologies become
p
u
mainstream.
l Technology can be fairly
a unchanging until a sudden
r
i discovery/breakthrough, such as
Time
t antibiotics, the internet.
y
Controlling nature has increased
through history, reducing
Life cycles have become shorter over time and the speed of environmental risk such as water
growth has increased
shortages, natural hazards,
pollution control.
The main factor underlying all of these
technologies is access to wealth, but the next
slide outlines the complex factors involved
 Barriers: what factors control
access to technology?
Factor Explanation Examples
Level of MEDCs and TNCs invest more money into R&D, they GlaxoSmithKiine Retroviral drugs for
economic protect their innovations intellectual property rights HIV/AIDs. The G8, UN and WHO
development restricting access in LEDCs hoped for universal access by 2010.
They have the money to invest in the infrastructure Brazil has started illegal, cheaper
required to support the technology e.g. a wireless or copies.
hard-wired network for the internet
Physical Some technologies are only suited to certain physical HEP needs mountains, impermeable
reasons locations rocks and high water input, solar
needs sun.....
Political Some national governments limit access to technology China and control over Google
reasons to ordinary citizens in order to control the information N Korea and mobile phone bans
that they send and receive
Historical Historical development has a large influence on Western European Industrial
reasons current wealth revolution and colonial dominance
This includes political systems, early use of fossil fuels over especially Africa and India.
and industrial revolutions Japans post WW2 restructuring
investment by USA
Environmental Certain group shun certain technologies due to their Greenpeace , FoE- nuclear power &
or social potential negative social or environmental impacts GM production
reasons Amish, Mennonites

Religious Some religions do not believe in the use of certain Catholics and artificial contraception
reasons forms of technology
Military The use of some weapons technology is controlled by Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty
reasons international organisations to try to maintain global
security
 Attitudes to technology and
environmental determinism
Countries like Bangladesh and Haiti
are examples of environmental
Attitudes to technology determinism. The causes of their high
risk may be split into 3 types, with the
type of technology set against them:
 The Digital Age: background to the
patterns of access to technology
The Technological Gap: Generally ,access is best in more developed nations, especially N
America, Eurasia and Australasia, and also much of S America. Worst access in sub Saharan
Africa and other Least Developed Countries such as Afghanistan, Myanmar.
Countries with the best access to knowledge are best placed to gain wealth. Affluent
countries invest more in education. The majority of R&D is in Western Europe, North
America and Japan which receive high incomes from royalties and license fees
Electricity supply is a good indicator of interconnected power transmission, investment and
often high technology. It is essential prerequisite for modern life styles, from household
appliances, luxury goods to industrial processes.
The digital access index combines data on telephone landlines, mobile phone
subscriptions, cost of internet, adult literacy, school enrolment, internet band width, internet
users & broadband subscribers.

Hyperconnected places have a Under connected areas have a lower

digital access index of over 75.
They have the infrastructure to
support digital information
transfer and lower costs
because of competition.
NB the triad of economically
wealthy areas dominated by the
knowledge economy( E Asia, N
America, EU)
ICT is often said to be
persuasive or penetrative
because it needs less static
infrastructure e.g. mobiles,
satellites
access index: mainly less than 15
Examples: sub Saharan Africa,
Kenya.
These areas need support
technologies: wireless networks,
reliable power supply, internet service
provider companies, sales distribution
& repair network, useful websites &
software in familiar language
 Modern technology and the Contested
Planet:
ICTs are an enabler of development:
They can reduce social and economic inequalities The most important
Support local wealth creation technologies for helping achieve
MDG goals are:
Encourage entrepreneurs and innovations
Communications and
Improve efficiency in all aspects of life and commerce networking technologies e.g.
They shrink distances and enable remote geographical Cable/wireless networks
locations become included in core global trends User devices e.g. Mobile
Low cost technology once networks are established phones, handheld computers,
Newer technologies, e.g. WiFi do not depend on installed smart cards, storage media,
infrastructures. global positioning system
receivers.
Language technologies ensure that those without formal
Alternative energy sources e.g.
education are provided with access to knowledge and Portable solar chargers, wind-up
information using applications most suitable to their skill and solar rechargeable batteries,
level. fuel cells & wind generators.
Language technologies e.g.
Text to speech, speech
recognition, handwriting
The UN Millennium Report stresses the importance
recognition, translation, e-mail,
of ICT and digital inclusion to developing countries
blogs
as a fundamental element of human development,
Business applications e.g. email
calling for universal access to information and
communication services as agents of
development contributing to the achievement of all
of the MDGs.
 Measuring levels of technology
The 4 categories from high to low relate to investment opportunities .
Hotspots show the most extreme digital divide
Improvements show recent improvements in e-inclusiveness and very good opportunities for investment

Extrem Hotspots Digital

e 0-2.5 Inclusion risk
Index by
High Improvements
Maplecroft
This Index shows the relative levels of access to information and 2.5-5.0 foundation,
communication technology for 183 countries. Mediu World
Economic
Data is from 2007 International Telecommunication Union where m 5.0-
Forum 2009
7.7
10 core ICT indicators are used: access to computers, including
Low
internet, broadband access, mobiles and fixed lines. 7.5-10
Mobiles are weighted since they are a key driver of access to
No
ICT in developing countries data
 Measuring the digital divide

World Internet penetration rates by geographic regions

2009 %
More than one fifth of the worlds population are
now online, but the majority are in developed
countries
Fixed broadband uptake is slow in many
developing regions.
While almost all countries now have
commercially deployed fixed broadband, the
service remains relatively expensive in many
developing countries and thus inaccessible to
many potential users.
3G phones, the 3rd generation of mobiles will
allow greater internet coverage

CHINA'S INTERNET USE

Total users in 2009 : 298 million
Year-on-year increase: 41.9%
Mobile net users: 117.6 million
Internet penetration: 22.6%
NB strict government controls still
 Technology and Development
The international Commission on
SOCIAL GROWTH-health, Growth and Development Growth in
education, knowledge, 2008 identified key factors for
choices sustained economic growth
-Engagement with the global economy
-Specialising exports
-Transfer of key technologies
Resources
Knowledge, creativity,

In order to develop countries need to

Advances in communications
invest in innovation and education
inventions

Energy + Water systems

Technology is a key driver in
ECONOMIC

Agriculture, Industry
promoting development,
GROWTH Some areas have Initial advantage
fuelled by technology

Development is associated with

Resources + infrastructure to maintain innovation:
productivity Universities, research, Government
sponsorship, TNCs, advanced legal
system-patent protection
reliable water, energy, transport,
health and communication systems
Technological change NB the concept of technological
leapfrogging
Costs and Benefits of technology: externalities and
unforeseen consequences
The effects of a new technology
are not always foreseen, as
shown by the use of pesticides
DDT, and synthetic compound
CFCs.
Cars are an iconic example of
a technology globally widely
adopted and treasured but which
has become a major contributor
to negative changes in our
environment through emissions.
The ecological footprint may be
large for a resource to be
harvested and used.
The controversy over genetic
modification of organisms shows
very different views by the
players involved
 Key Principles in pollution control

Precautionary
Began 1992 Rio Earth
Summit, Polluter Pays
linked with sustainable Means the costs of
cleaning up Proximity
development .
Prevention Where a threat appears pollution should be Principle
to be present, even if not borne by those Pollution should be
Try to stop at
proven, action needs causing it. Started tackled as near to the
source rather
taking to protect the by OECD source as possible,
than adapt
environment 1972.reaffirmed at contained, not
after created
E.g. reaction against GM Rio Summit allowed to spread
E.g. Urban
foods, 1987 Montreal E.g. This would apply to
Smokeless
Protocol on CFCs and Emissions Taxing in e.g. river pollution
zones, energy
Ozone depletion UK and at or exporting of toxic
efficiency
Maastrict Treat of EU international scale: waste to poorer less
The UK
Even Body Shop has it 1997 Kyoto Protocol restricted countries-
Environment
enshrined in their 2009 Copenhagen effectively global shift
Agencys
corporate plan. summit on of ecological
guidelines
2009 ban by EU of 22 technology transfer footprints!
commonly used chemicals
in agriculture

Most effective at long term scale?

 3. Technology, the
environment and the future
You need to know about:
The costs and benefits of intermediate / appropriate technology compared with hi tech
megaprojects: environmental impacts and social equity
The role technology might play in global issues such as global warming and land degradation
and whether the fix is feasible or desirable
The chances of technology contributing to a more environmentally sustainable future
Ideas about the technological future will it be:
a divergent world with a technologically fixed core and peripheral technology impoverished
periphery
or a convergent world with technology for all

Pessimist Malthus Optimist -Ester Boserup

Original theory dates back to the
1798:Population grows at a geometric
rate whist food production increase at
arithmetic growth, The inevitable
overlap called overpopulation will result
in poverty, starvation and death.
Adopted by many environmental groups
and the think tank: the Club of Rome
1972 whose publication The Limits to
Growth warned of resource depletion
and environmental degradation.
More recently the publication 2030
Spike suggested a global catastrophe by
2030
1965 theory that it is possible to
overcome environmental limits
through culture and technology
Necessity is the mother of invention,
and technological fixes can solve
Points of view on problems as they arise
population-
Evidence?
resources
relationship Green and gene Revolutions,
technology to help population control
such as the oral contraceptive.
1980s: USA Economist Julian Simon:
people+ markets are stimulated by
resource crises
 Technology the alternatives

See slide 5 for more details, and the concept of technological leapfrogging
 The Big Tech Fix! China and the
Three Gorges Dam
Technological fix for energy supply, water control and bridging the development
gap in Chinas quest to become a world superpower

Main player : state-backed Yangtze Three Gorges

Dam Project Development Corporation.
Estimated costs $37bn! Technology
transfer; 6 groups
of European,
The World Bank , Brazilian and US
traditionally a TNCs involved in
major player in construction e.g.
megadam The world's largest hydropower complex project to date in Xilingxia
GE and Siemens,
projects, pulled gorge of Asias longest river, the Yangtze. as well as Chinese
out of funding The main project was completed in 2008 and by 2011 it aims: companies
-concerns over
negative impacts Supply 1/10th of Chinas present electricity demands- the hub of an
integrated energy supply for central China with 3 regional grids
taking Three Gorges power, from the coast to the border of Tibet.
Reduce disastrous floods downstream
Improve navigability of the river to help trade within this dragon Sponsorship by
economy businesses in
An iconic example of the Contested Planet because of the USA and many
EU countries
Environmentalists viewpoints of the different players involved and their differing views including UK
concerned over on the externalities produced
ecological effects :
disrupting silt and
nutrient balances up Japan Ministry of
and downstream International Trade and
important for Industry supported
Human rights groups concerns
ecosystems and project to reduce acid rain
over forced relocation of
farmers. pollution from coal fired
1.27m people
power stations falling on
them!
 Technological and attitudinal fixes: some overarching issues

Geoengineering is
planetary scale
engineering, the
ultimate tech fix e.g.:
sulphur aerosols
space mirrors
ocean fertilisation
What is What Technology has been Role of Attitudinal Fixes? synthetic trees
the used/planned?
Problem Many environmentalists
? argue against it because
Pollution 1. At source and production of Life style changes- the 5 Rs: it allows pollution to
, Climate pollutant : Resource reduction reuse continue- then applies a
change Geo-engineering to reduce incoming recycling Reducing Respect fix to clean it up
and solar radiation Carrot and stick policies by Preferred: more
enhance Energy efficient technologies governments- voluntary and attitudinal changes and
d global New/expanded existing low forced changes e.g.: less contentious
warming carbon energy supplies- nuclear education and tax incentives to technologies: solar,
solar, HEP reduce personal footprints wind, geothermal,
carbon capture storage(unproven microgeneration (house
so far at a large scale) scale)
2. Reduce at user point :
catalytic converter In future? A hypothetical
3. Reduce at sink: carbon Tech Fix : Terraforming-
sequestration (forests, in rocks) moving to a new
Biodiver Sustainable logging by heavy Ethical and environmental planet!
sity equipment and heli-logging purchasing from sustainable
under GIS and satellite surveillance to sources e.g. Forest Stewardship
Technological and attitudinal fixes for energy, water
and development
Problem Technology Attitudinal Fix
Energy New sources of oil and new Increased shared transport-
security pipelines public transport
Oil shortages New types e.g. tar sands, shales. Energy efficient transport
and Peak Oil Replace and supplement oil by Use of low carbon transport
fears gas
A hydrogen economy or similar
alternative energy future for
example based on nuclear power.
Switch to renewables, e.g.
biofuels, solar.
Water High tech Megafixes: dams, Reduction in water use
Conflicts: desalination plants, pipelines, Grey water recycling
supply and canals, tankers
quality Lower tech or more appropriate
technology: Taankas, microdams,
composting toilets
Bridging the Pharmaceutical research to find a patents
Development vaccine or curative medicine. sharing/agreements to
Gap by tackling The use of condoms, dams, reduce drug costs
poverty and antiretroviral drugs, semen washing, Public health education to
health: coping clean needles. prevent the spread of the
with HIV/AIDs disease e.g. needles, safe
sex, abstinence, pre-natal
testing
Women empowerment
 Technology for all or some?
The Future?

Convergence
Scenario Divergence

Business as usual: the Use of similar

current model technology
Are we too addicted to
technology?
2007 IMF :the world has Global use of
become increasingly internal
unequal since 1980 combustion
Technology contributed engine
to this by increasing Recent changes
inequality and in patent laws
technological New Green
Evidence? revolution in
divergence.
It is not meeting main Africa using
challenges to date :fossil appropriate
Sustainability? Meeting the needs of the fuel dominance, global technology
present without compromising the needs of pollution, poverty, transfers
future generations.... environmental Use of biofuels
A complex concept, difficult to assess, and degradation all at a
hotly contested when types of technology global scale
are concerned
A summary of The Technological Fix within the Unit 3 topics
Energy security
Technology efficiency
Energy pathways
Oil frontiers to counteract Peak oil
Alternative technology : a new atomic
age?
Renewables technology
The 5 Energy Rs ( refuse, reduce,
research, recycle, replace)
Role of technology in the Sustainability
quadrant, and its role in Business as usual
and Technological convergence
Technology transfer
Superpower geographies
Mechanisms of getting and maintaining
power
Rise of BRICs and TNCs
Military might- hard power mechanisms
e.g. surveillance ,nuclear deterrent.
Economic trade and aid-trade
,communications technologies e.g.
outsourcing and FDI
Culture and ideology transfers and
influence- media technology
Attitudinal Fix to all?
Water conflicts
Megaproject
Water availability gap
Economic water scarcity
Abstraction technology
Externalities created by large hard
engineering projects e.g. transfers , dams,
desalinisation plants
Water conservation: low tech and high tech
grey water, water harvesting, appropriate
technology , restoration projects.
Bridging the development gap
Technological gap and Digital Divide
between switched on and off areas
Intermediate or appropriate technology
Technology transfer
Megacity growth facilitated by high rise
buildings, transport, communications
2009 global depression fuelled by
interconnected world
Business as usual? Radical future? Sustainable development?
Biodiversity under threat
Threats on biodiversity and hotspots:
destruction and degradation.
Sustainable yield concept
Eco reserve management: use of
technology e.g. satellite monitoring ,
GIS 4-wheeled drives, guns.
Seed banks, gene banks, zoos all
involve a technological fix.
The Technological Fix
Technocentric world
Lifecycle changes
Digital technology
Environmental determinism
Technological leapfrogging e.g. mobile
phones
Patents and Intellectual property rights
Micro, Nano, + Bio technology
Convergent and divergent scenarios