Opinion: Reevaluating our methods in pursuit of environmental sustainability

We need to rethink the effectiveness of focusing solely on decarbonization to achieve true sustainability.

Peter Sutoris writes for Undark.

In short:

• Technological solutions like decarbonization might not address the deeper social and political issues affecting environmental sustainability.
• Emphasis on reducing carbon emissions often overshadows other environmental concerns such as biodiversity loss and pollution.
• The current strategy of reducing emissions through technological means may neglect the underlying economic and political factors contributing to environmental degradation.

Key quote:

"Technology can, at best, kick conflicts down the road. Peace cannot be engineered."

— Peter Sutoris, environmental anthropologist

Why this matters:

Relying solely on decarbonization to achieve sustainability overlooks several critical aspects of environmental and societal health. Decarbonization primarily focuses on reducing carbon emissions, particularly from energy production and industrial processes, which is undoubtedly essential. However, sustainability is a broader concept that includes economic, social, and environmental balance.