Экологические проблемы современности как следствие технического прогресса

1. "Экологические проблемы современности как следствие технического прогресса"

Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего образования
"Ярославский государственный технический университет"
Институт химии и химической технологии
"Экологические проблемы современности как
следствие технического прогресса"
Автор работы:
студентка группы - ХТ-13
Эхаева Зара Увайсовна
Начный руководитель:
Ефимова Ярослава Романовна
город Ярославль,
2026 г

2.

Presentation Plan
1. The Role of Technological Progress
2. Industrialization and Climate Change
3. Pollution: Air, Water and Soil
4. Overconsumption and Resource Depletion
5. Digital Era and E-Waste
6. Technology as Part of the Solution
7. Practical Significance
8. Personal Analysis and Opinion
9. Conclusion
10.References

3. The Role of Technological Progress

Technological progress has significantly improved
living standards.
However, according to the United Nations, global
material extraction has more than tripled since 1970
and now exceeds 100 billion tons per year.
Energy demand has also increased rapidly.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that
fossil fuels still account for about 80% of global
energy consumption.
This demonstrates that modern technological
development remains heavily dependent on natural
resource exploitation.
In my opinion, technological growth without
ecological limits inevitably creates environmental
risks.

4. Industrialization and Climate Change

Since the Industrial Revolution, atmospheric CO₂
concentration has increased from about 280 ppm to
over 420 ppmtoday (IPCC data).
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC):
• Global temperature has increased by
approximately 1.1°C compared to pre-industrial levels.
• Sea level has risen by about 20 cm since 1900.
• Extreme weather events have become more frequent
and intense.
Climate change is directly linked to fossil fuel
combustion, industrial production, and transportation
systems.
I believe this is the clearest example of how technological
progress, when uncontrolled, affects planetary systems.

5. Pollution: Air, Water and Soil

According to the World Health Organization (WHO):
Around 7 million premature deaths annually are
linked to air pollution.
99% of the global population breathes air that
exceeds WHO pollution limits.
Plastic production exceeds 400 million tons per year,
and about 11 million tons of plastic waste enter the
oceans annually (UNEP data).
Soil degradation affects nearly 40% of the world’s land
area.
These numbers show that pollution is not a local issue
— it is a global crisis.

6.

Overconsumption and Resource Depletion
The Global Footprint Network states that humanity
uses resources equivalent to 1.7 Earths annually.
Deforestation continues at a rate of approximately 10
million hectares per year (FAO data).
Freshwater demand is projected to exceed supply
by 40% by 2030 if current trends continue (UN
data).
Mass production and consumer culture — enabled
by technology — accelerate resource depletion.
In my view, the environmental crisis is not only
technological but also behavioral and economic.

7. Digital Era and E-Waste

The digital revolution has created new environmental
challenges.
According to the Global E-waste Monitor (2024):
The world generated over 62 million metric tons of ewaste in 2022.
Only about 22% of it was properly recycled.
Data centers consume approximately 1–1.5% of global
electricity (IEA).
Cryptocurrency mining alone consumes more
electricity annually than some entire countries.
Thus, even “invisible” digital technologies have a
significant environmental footprint.

8. Technology as Part of the Solution

Despite these problems, technology can also reduce
environmental damage.
According to the International Renewable Energy
Agency (IRENA):
Renewable energy capacity has grown rapidly,
reaching over 3,800 GW globally.
Solar energy costs have fallen by more than 80% since
2010.
Electric vehicle sales exceeded 14 million units in
2023 (IEA).
These trends show that technological progress can shift
toward sustainability.
In my opinion, the key issue is strategic direction and
political will.

9. Practical Significance and Personal Analysis

Environmental problems affect:
Public health
Economic stability
Food and water security
Global political stability
If global temperature rises above 1.5–2°C, the consequences
may become irreversible.
From my perspective:
1.Governments must strengthen environmental regulations.
2.Businesses must implement sustainable production.
3.Individuals must adopt responsible consumption habits.
Technological progress should prioritize long-term planetary
survival rather than short-term economic profit.

10. Conclusion

Technological progress has brought humanity comfort and
prosperity, but also climate change, pollution, and resource
depletion.
Statistics clearly show that current development models are
unsustainable.
However, I believe humanity still has the opportunity to redirect
technological progress toward green innovation and sustainable
development.
The future depends not only on new technologies, but on ethical
responsibility and global cooperation.

11. References

1.Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report. – Geneva: IPCC, 2023.
2.United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Global Environment Outlook – GEO-6. – Nairobi: UNEP, 2019.
3.World Health Organization (WHO). Air Pollution and Health. – Geneva: WHO, 2023.
4.International Energy Agency (IEA). World Energy Outlook 2023. – Paris: IEA, 2023.
5.International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Renewable Capacity Statistics 2024. – Abu Dhabi: IRENA, 2024.
6.Forti V., Baldé C. P., Kuehr R. Global E-waste Monitor 2024. – Bonn: United Nations University, 2024.
7.Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020. – Rome: FAO, 2020.
8.Global Footprint Network. National Footprint and Biocapacity Accounts 2023 Edition. – Oakland, 2023.