Taking Technology Seriously: Introduction to New Technologies and Global Environmental Politics

Human beings are defined as both makers and products of technology, emphasizing the profound impact of technological capability on human evolution and ecological dominance.
Technological tools have significantly altered the physical world, leading to a modified planet.

Early human impacts on the environment included mass extinctions of megafauna facilitated by hunting and trapping techniques.
The advent of agriculture marked significant technological advances, contributing to the success of Homo sapiens.
The dual nature of technology:
- Technology offers significant advancements in human well-being and environmental conditions.
- For instance, global average life expectancy has more than doubled since 1900 (Roser et al. 2013).
- Access to information and educational opportunities has broadened, previously available only to an elite few.
- Agricultural expansion has been reversed by intensification efforts (World Bank, n.d.).
- There have been successful replacements of ozone-depleting substances with synthetic alternatives.
- Achieving progress on climate change is linked to innovations in zero-carbon energy, electricity storage, and carbon dioxide removal.

Despite its benefits, technology is often central to the pressing environmental issues of today:
- Industrial practices contribute to significant environmental degradation, including local pollution and global ecological distress.
- Irrigation can cause soil salinity, while online black markets facilitate illegal wildlife trade.
- Energy primarily derives from fossil fuels, resulting in greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
- The post-World War II era has manifested a capability for large-scale destruction through technology, leading to existential risks.
The Anthropocene is introduced as a new geological epoch characterized by significant human impact on the Earth (e.g., industrialization, nuclear testing).

The text poses emerging technologies that could allow for intentional alterations of planetary characteristics:
- Large-scale interventions to remove carbon dioxide are becoming mainstream climate solutions.
- Solar geoengineering includes strategies to reduce sunlight to mitigate climate change.
- Genetic technologies like CRISPR gene drives could eradicate invasive species and potentially reintroduce extinct species.

The development of technology poses essential governance and ethical questions:
- Who benefits from technological advancements?
- Who is included in the decision-making processes, and who is excluded?
- Will these technologies reinforce existing power imbalances or create new ones?
- Do technological developments support or hinder democratic processes?
- The role of corporate power in governance requires scrutiny; adjustments may be necessary to limit its influence.
Scholars in global environmental politics have often neglected the profound impact of technology, indicated as a form of 'technological somnambulism' (Winner 1986).

The perception of technology as autonomous—driving itself forward without human control—is critiqued, suggesting false determinism.
This perspective limits human agency; thus, understanding technology requires examining its coalescence with social and material relations.
- Technology interacts with society, shaping and reflecting social norms, power structures, and human identity.
Two key political dimensions of technology:
- Technological developments are outcomes of social struggles, not mere progressions.
- Technologies can solidify social, economic, and political power arrangements, reflecting historical contexts (Jasanoff 1999).

Ecological Restoration Technologies (Leslie Paul Thiele):
- Focuses on synthetic biology technologies for ecological restoration, including ethical and governance challenges.
- Introduces the concept of “Nature 4.0,” a managed nature perspective with advanced interventions in biodiversity.
Gene Drives (Jesse Reynolds):
- Analyzes genetic modifications that promote rapid propagation in populations for conservation and health purposes.
- Highlights contentious outdoor testing, governance challenges, and compares gene drive governance to that of traditional GMOs.
Precision Agriculture (Jennifer Clapp and Sarah-Louise Ruder):
- Examines the integration of digital technologies and genome editing in agriculture and its environmental implications.
- Discusses the potential sustainability benefits vs. corporatization and entrenched destructive practices in farming.
Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and Solar Geoengineering (Edward Parson and Holly Buck):
- Explores large-scale removal of CO2 and its economic implications, alongside associated political challenges.
- Offers policy suggestions for incentivizing CDR technology implementation and management.
Transnational Climate Governance (Joshua Horton and Barbara Koremenos):
- Critiques the governance framework's emphasis on steering, advocating for a broader view that incorporates influencing approaches.

New and anticipated technologies provide immense potential for well-being and sustainability, but their social and political implications are significant and complex.
Understanding technology in context, rather than as mere technical solutions, is critical for shaping a sustainable future.