Technological Fix

3. What is the role of technology in the management of the contested planet ? a) The impacts of intermediate / appropriate technology with hi-tech megaprojects

b) Role of technology in global issuesc) Chances of technology contributing to a more environmentally sustainable futured) The technological future – convergence or divergence?

Learning Objectives:• Understand that technology operates at different levels and

has various social and environmental consequences• Appreciate the differences between appropriate

intermediate technology and the megaproject approach

Starter – Polluter Pays

• Summarize the polluter pays principle into 3 key words

Our Future?

• Shortages of fossil fuels• Global population growth (over 8 billion)• Persistent poverty (1.1 billion living on

less that $1 per day in 2011)• Climate change (1-2°c warming by 2030)• Water shortages (By 2030, people will

have access to 30% less water)• Famine

Views

Pessimist – Malthus• Population growth

at geometric growth

• Food production increase at arithmetic growth

= Starvation

Optimist – Boserup• Possible to

overcome environmental limits through culture and technology

Types of Technological Fix

Labour Intensive

Capital Intensive

Low Tech

High Tech

Technology Definitions

• Intermediate Technology – relatively low, usually low labour-intensive technology that can be mastered by local people, especially in the developing world

• Appropriate Technology – Technology that suits the level of income, skill and needs of the local people

• Megaprojects – Looks to develop a high-income, consumer economy through large scale projects such as dams, airports etc

Case Study – Tackling water shortages in Ethiopia• Considered one of the poorest

countries in the world• IMF puts Ethiopia's growth for 2007

at 11.4%!• Issues of drought – can technology

have the answers?• Huge water potential that is currently

not being used

Task• Summarise each of the three schemes

• Are the social and environmental consequences of large dam schemes, such as the Tekeze Dam, justifiable in order for poor countries to develop?

• Explain how each of the three schemes aims to tackle the issue of water security for Ethiopians

• To what extent do you agree with the view of the World Bank that ‘Ethiopia is poor because it doesn’t use its enormous water potential’?

Social Impacts Economic Impacts Environmental Impacts

Low Tech solution – Harvesting the rain

High Tech solution – Tekeze Dam

Intermediate Technology – small dams

Plenary – Just One Minute!

Topic – Water Shortages in Ethiopia