Can technology be the solution to the triple environmental crisis?

It’s a fact. We’re all going through a lot these days already. If you think about it, getting back to sharpening the daily soft skills is a form of continuous self-restoration. In the grand scheme of things, when we expand what we feel right now, towards an Earth perspective, the acute needs of a better today and a safer tomorrow come to light. 

Today’s #LearningWednesday educates us about the urgency in the shift of paradigm needed to overcome the triple Environmental Crisis.

Factually speaking, people and nature can heal together. It’s a must.

‘To see ourselves as separate from nature is a big mistake.’ - Priya Darshini 

This year’s Environmental Day marks the beginning of a possible end, unless we come to understand and act accordingly to the reality we are living in. 

What is this decade all about?

The focus of this decade is on ecosystem restoration. Or, even more precisely, on nurturing the Earth’s natural abilities to recreate itself through the power of interaction between each cohabitant: living and non-living. 

Restoration has a wide spectrum regarding preserving, halting, reversing damage, and conserving, depending on the specific need. Yet, the battle is on multiple meta plans: economical, systematical, ethical, ecological - technological, especially regarding the lack of systematic research and evaluation of ecological technologies

How’s this any different from the things we’ve heard before?

Business Standard presents this decade’s goal as an unprecedented effort. So does Antonio Gutteres, the President of the UN Environmental Program (UNEP), who critically insists on this exceptional opportunity, as environmental issues have never received such political support, scientific research, and financial muscle on a global scale.

Pakistan hosted this year’s Environmental Day, also announcing their plan on expanding and restoring the country’s forests to the ’10 Billion Trees Tsunami’. This is part of the Bonn Challenge, a global effort pledging to bring 350 million hectares of the world’s deforested and degraded land into restoration by 2030. 

Going from a bird’s eye perspective to day-to-day responsibility conduct build

When 40% of the population has their wellbeing undermined by unconscious practices causing a triple environmental crisis, it’s common sense we naturally broaden the basis of responsible conduct. 

It’s only vital to transition the crucial mathematics into responsibility. 

‘We need to figure out a way for people to step back for nature to step forward.’ -Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org

What's the international perspective?

Internationally speaking, there is an impressive number of countries deciding better for the future. The urban potential plays a huge role in terms of the green infrastructure transforming cities into more sustainable, resilient, heartily, equitable and pleasant places to live. 

From the USA’s side, Eric Garcetti, the Los Angeles mayor, praises the build-up of this global movement. L.A. cares for biodiversity and works to respect global goals. Not only did they create a bio-index while protecting over 4000 native species, but they are also conducting a low-impact development management strategy on stormwater and a new soil strategy. 

As for a more graphic approach to other countries’ involvement in urban green infrastructure, here’s our top 3:

1.Bangkok - where ‘people are bringing the green and the blue back’

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2.Singapore - where the urban greening program was initiated more than 50 years ago 

3.Beijing - where The Urban Forest Research Center’s created a ‘miracle’

If they can do it, anyone can. Especially with the infrastructure going live with this decade’s goals. 

What does it mean to be responsible as a simple citizen of the world? 

It’s key to know to get to know your surroundings to be able to help. We are the #GenerationRestoration whether we like it or not.

If we’re talking about responsibility, we are sharing it all.

One way to get involved is, of course, by taking part in projects, camps, but if that doesn’t suit your lifestyle that much, there are other concepts supporting a better tomorrow.

Degrowth - possibly the concept that will save the world

A perspective similar to recessions arises boldly as we are consistently walking towards global goals. Degrowth is such a balanced and respectful concept that it should seamlessly make sense for everyone. As the concept is quite new in conversations, rarely making the spotlight, please allow us to share our perspective on it regarding today’s environment-oriented topic.

Ecosystems alone won’t make it if we don’t embark on a larger scale of change. Talking about global changes will always bring macroeconomics into debate and it’s a good thing it does. While the battles for saving the world go concomitantly on multiple levels, degrowth comes in to balance our efforts. 

Taking off from the early 70s, with a publication by Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen on Entropy Law and Economic Process, the concept was the subject of the debates of various thinkers from economics to ecologists and philosophers. 

As a result of those, these three intangible principles were grounded:

1.A big percentage of the resources humans rely on are dependent on ecosystem services and are limited.

2.Each withdrawal of non-renewable resources has the potential to jeopardize the long-term survival chances of humanity.

3.Infinite growth (demographic, economic, etc) in a finite world is impossible. 

Degrowth is the foundation of Eco-Design, Permaculture, and Agroecology principles through the acute need of adapting the ecological human-created footprint to the limited nature of the available resources. 

So, is degrowth a new term for global equity in terms of the environment?

Not only. From a larger perspective, this concept highlights the need for equity and smart distribution of resources in terms of establishing a level of human subsistence. 

Waste and waste management are major factors of today’s reality just as much as famine. A polarized world has little mind-space to think about global balance. Yet, if the popularity of the concept increases, it can become a foundation for thought for a better world design. 

When brought up with the values of an equitable world, it’s beyond doubt, that the #GenerationRestoration will exponentially present more on-point, personalized solutions for the reality they are creating.

How does technology act on all this?

The triple environmental emergency can be solved by the symbiosis of nature, technology, and healthy mentalities. Alongside biodiversity loss, escalating pollution and climate disruption are just as responsible for the degradation of wellbeing. 

We believe in science and we trust that technology has the power to change the world when delivered ethically. It’s known that ecosystems with a higher level of diversity can cope with stress better. 

Ecosystem stress comes from higher temperatures, increasing salt concentration, and factors such as habitat change, climate change, invasive species, over-exploitation, and pollution.  

That being said, stress is a downer we are all battling from ‘cell-to-toe’. This is the root reason why UNEP (and us, as a brand) supports the synergy between natural and technological. 

Three ways technology helps with nature's stress

1. Monitoring, identifying, and coming up with relieving solutions by use of brain mapping

2. Safeguarding key processes such as photosynthesis, nutrient cycling, water filtration

3. Climate engineering to balance altered weather patterns 

Since we now understand that the power of ecosystems lays in their biodiversity.

Here’s a top 7 list of technologies that save the endangered species:

1. Mapping and Geo-Visualization

2. Smart Collars

3. Remote Control Camouflage Photography

4. Remote Control sampling and Measuring Tools

5. Beehive fences

6. Conservation drones

7. Predictive analysis of data

Technology’s responsibility in environmental social education 

Aside from taking responsibility in its hands, technology plays a key role in global transparency and ease of use in terms of climate disruption, one of the three phases of the Environmental Crisis we are facing. 

From carbon-capturing to efficient data centers and last year’s reality-shaker #WorkFromHome, better means have been brought closer to users to facilitate the UN goals on biodiversity restoration. Accessibility also extends to responsibility and countries’ representation on a global scale. 

Regarding this decade’s purpose, there’s a commitment database highlighting the countries which took the responsibility to restore nearly 1 billion hectares of degraded land (that’s larger than China). 

Supporting this matter, this year, the European Commission will put forward a proposal for legally binding EU nature restoration targets. This stands as a key element of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.

Technology makes the world go round and perhaps stay round

When we say international, we say technology just as much. And since we’re tackling international agreements, it almost goes without saying - we’re tackling international standards. 

The Society for Ecological Restoration has just revised a new edition of International Principles and Standards for the practice of ecological restoration. 

To summarize it, the 8 principles are guiding to:

1. Engage with the stakeholders

2. Build diverse knowledge from multidisciplinary specialists

3. Understand the native environments while considering environmental change

4. Support the existing recovery

5. Use measurable indicators

6. Seek the highest level of ecosystem recovery possible

7. Apply to large scale to gain cumulative value

8. Understand the Continuum aspect of restorative activities

And how can we apply all of these? 

Through the power of technology. 

Your implication has always been more than coding. Set your purpose high.

Why is now easier than ever to include people in this essential conversation?

Coming from Inger Anderson, the UNEP Executive Director, we are now talking with ease about:

- Financial flow through inclusive wealth measures (like never before)

- Protection for those who manage the land in law and deed

- Cities turning into green havens through urban agriculture

- Real means to restore the planet including marine and coastal habitats

That being said,

‘Now is the time for our re-generation.’

You are the #GenerationRestoration.

To better ‘Reimagine. Recreate. Restore’:

Decade on Restoration

Becoming #GenerationRestoration

Ecosystem Restoration Playbook 

UNEP - What is Ecosystem Restoration? 

Environmental Day Virtual Celebration

Degrowth 

Hopeful Restoration Stories

Countries Commitment on Restoration 

European Commission Restoration legally binding EU nature restoration targets

Biodiversity Convention 

Ecological Restoration Technologies and Evaluation Systems 

Forests and sustainable cities. Inspiring stories from around the world

International Principles and Standards for Ecological Restoration

You can help prove the power of ecosystem restoration 

Goals and Commitments

Now is the time for our regeneration - poem