Technological Levers for Sustainability: Energy and Policy

This lecture discusses the role of technological levers in achieving sustainability, focusing on the energy sector's impact on climate change and resource consumption. It begins by questioning whether technological progress is a blessing or a curse, highlighting the dual nature of technology in improving living conditions while increasing resource consumption. The instructor emphasizes the importance of balancing technological advancements with environmental sustainability, illustrating this with examples from the energy sector, which significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. The lecture also addresses the inequitable access to energy globally and introduces the energy trilemma, which encompasses energy security, environmental sustainability, and equity. The discussion extends to various technological approaches, including energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, and carbon capture technologies. The instructor concludes by stressing that while technology can aid sustainability, it must be complemented by economic and political levers to effectively address the challenges of resource overuse and environmental degradation.