Technology is one of the most attractive features for consumers in the market today. Shiny new products fast replace the old one. But what happens with our used items? And are the new technologies environmentally safe?
Elegant, efficient, appropriate technology, we all like it. Government gives handouts to induce us to use new technologies. So… is the Green revolution on its way?
Let’s not forget these new technologies are heavily outweighed by a host of consumer goods on the market that flagrantly damage the environment. So long as this status quo remains it will take many decades for feeble efforts to make a dent on the overall sustainability of our nation.
What to do about this? It seems that we need a government process in place that pre-empts and responds to environmental impacts of new consumer technologies that are put on sale in the Australian marketplace.
The Australian government is responding to some of these dilemmas, but in a very ad-hoc way. Like mooting the banning of incandescent light bulbs, equipment that has high stand-by power and setting new standards for Plasma TVs, including a possible ban on those that are too inefficient.
Environmental impact assessment
If anybody wishes to undertake a development on land, they are obliged to go through fairly comprehensive approval processes, so that the environment (or society) is not harmed by the proposed development. This includes comprehensive environmental impact assessments. By stark contrast, if you place something on the market place there are virtually no regulations in place that require the business to ensure the commodity does not cause a major environmental risk (other than compliance with health and safety standards).
Yet, many market goods have had immense environmental repercussions in Australia that could easily have been nipped in the bud.
Moreover, the problem is, for every technology that they randomly attend to, a whole new batch of other things go onto the market that overwhelm any net savings that are made. Just go into the big department stores and you will see rows of patio burners for sale - what was once used for cafés everybody now wants for their own barbecue area. You can even buy electric ones - the ultimate global warming device. No doubt these will have to be banned eventually.
Environment and Sustainability
There is also a real problem that in only dealing with environmentally bad technologies long after their damage has become apparent, a whole culture is built around them that is hard to overcome. Not to mention a distribution and service infrastructure that has a vested interest in the preservation of bad technology.
Environment and sustainability have almost no status in market regulation at present. Yet the urgency of climate change demands much tighter prescriptions and processes to assess and regulate what can go onto the market (or what restrictions, disincentives or taxes are placed on them if they do).
As I write this, 2 million good working televisions are due to go to landfill in Australia this year, owing to the massive consumer conversion to flat screen and digital TVs. In the next 5 years this is estimated to rise to some 7 million TV sets. The dumped TVs have mercury and lead in them. Lack of control over the market place means that there have been no mechanisms in place to deal with this huge surge of toxic waste. And power consumption of large new plasma TVs rivals that of the refrigerator. Why did authorities not anticipate these problems before they became chronic?
It is clearly not feasible for all new goods to go through approval processes, but we do need a statutory body to examine market trends closely and be ready to intervene early where it foresees (or is alerted to) products that may negatively impact on the Australian environment. No good waiting until the horse has already bolted, as has happened with 4WD monsters, badly designed electronic goods, patio burners and many new, 'must buy' goods advertisers are lining up to sell to us.
Green directory of eco-friendly Australian businesses. This green directory is providing you all details about environmental companies around Australia. Find the green business around your place.
The conquest of new technology… at what price?
