Disruptive innovation:
Makes existing technology redundant
Current way of operating cannot work anymore, radical way of thinking.
“Disruptive change is an irreversible change in your expected future”
Problem:
Heavy dependence on fossil fuels as main source of energy (way of thinking), even though it contributes to climate change. Questioning the feasibility of this continued dependence?
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i. Specific Innovation of Interest: (Solution)
Emergence of “green awareness” through carbon trading mechanisms.
Focus on the US because it has been the forerunner of all innovations, and why it is lagging behind China in developing green tech for now.
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ii. Rationale for Selecting this Innovation:
Global climate changes in recent times becoming more and more adverse; Obvious that we cannot continue at our current rate of consumption without considering the detrimental impacts to the environment.
Point 1.
Reasons leading to our current rate of reckless consumption
Point 1a. (“Scarcity” or human greed?)
I believe that scarcity is not the reason for our current dilemma, but rather human greed.
1960s space race: ”The sky is the limit”
We have to change our mindsets and realize that scarcity merely is an excuse for greed.
Revenue - costs = profits. Profits lead to expansion. Expansion only leads to further expansion. “The only way is up”. Governments are doing this, businesses are doing this, society is doing this. People are just following this.
Research:
Shows the evolution of social minds, and the power of society’s influence
Point 1b. (Imperfect cost allocation affecting “growth”)
Process of allocating costs on fossil fuels inefficient
Through inaccurate measures of economic growth (did not take into account the costs to the planet, just basic costs within society), and hence the evolution of societal wants in accordance to this.
Looking at the distorted free-market mechanism, cost of fossil fuels vs cost of green energy.
Research:
See how the costs of fossil fuels were priced during the late 1800s.
Summary Point 1.
“Growth (noun): The act or process, or a manner of growing; development; gradual increase”
“Greed (noun): The excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or material possessions”
One has positive connotations within the word, the other has negative connotations, yet greed could be passed off as aggressive growth.
Research:
Shows that the reckless consumption is a vicious cycle of human greed, leading to growth, which in turn, encourages human greed for even more things.
An interesting video about human greed hiding behind a smokescreen termed economic growth, and how this "bubble" is about to burst:
Where is the limit?
Point 2. (Technology at the point of consumption explosion)
Perhaps the reason why we are in such deep trouble, is due to the fact that the technology available to us, at that point in time, was not advanced enough to support green technology? Or could it be that it was simply never considered significant enough in our mind this entire time?
I believe tipping point would be the Industrial Revolution, when production capabilities flew through the roof.
Point 2a. (Technology’s fault, or lack there-of)
Need to look at technologies during the Industrial Revolution and compare it with existing green technologies. Steam engines was the innovation of that time, could it have been used to power wind turbines/hydroelectric dams?
Research:
See whether it COULD HAVE been done in the past.
See also if it WAS done in the past.
Point 2b. (Society’s fault, ignorance towards unsustainability?)
Or could it have been just because it was too “expensive” to do so?
People did not care about sustainable development, main aim was to increase production capabilities.
Did not want to “waste resources” investing in R&D for something that was not a main concern.
Opportunity cost of falling behind others in sales was too great to bear, companies believed they should “worry only when other people worry”?
Research:
Specializations of countries during Industrial Revolution and how it was geared towards efficiency of production rather than innovations.
Summary Point 2.
-Depends on research, to be continued-
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iii. Proposed approach to development of paper:
• Executive Summary (a brief stand-alone synopsis/abstract of your paper)
The degradation of the world started with the noble intention of improving living standards across the globe, making the world a better place for us to live in. However, looking at the condition of the world today, one would be shocked at the power of reckless human greed. The climate crisis today is the consequence of a world suffering from consideration without deliberation.
If our greatest mistake began centuries ago, we have to stand up and correct it. In order to continue moving forward, we need to look at the past. We cannot adopt the old framework of only looking at improving our standard of living, but rather we need to look at improving living in a sustainable manner. This paper aims to critically analyze issues such as the viability of green technology during the Industrial Revolution, and the free-market mechanisms that have been in place even before then, that might have led to decades of wrong decision making building on inaccurate market information and sentiments at that point of time.
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• Background/Introduction (Fossil fuels)
Basic barter trade started. 1 for 1 initially, before people started to attach inherent Value to each good. E.g. 1 cow for 1 sack of wheat, to maybe 5 sacks of wheat.
Widespread adoption of money allowed people to purchase different goods they once didn’t need. Encouraged specialization in areas, to be able to produce more of what they are good at producing. Earn more, consume more.
Market value affected by demand and supply, will always tend to even each other out. If supply is increased, value dips, demand will naturally increase in tandem due to gains from cost price.
Prior to Industrial revolution, the tipping point.
Inception of the steam engine increased capacity for production. Production capabilities flew through the roof. Since more stuff (increased supply) was available, people looked to consume more stuff (increased demand).
However, inaccurate valuation of the costs of production has led to incorrect decision-making and improving on errors to make them better errors.
This hasn’t changed since.
Hopefully with the introduction of carbon credits, things will change.
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Since the focus is on fossil fuels contributing to climate change,
They can do this through either
1.Burning of fossil fuels (i.e. Greenhouse gas emissions) or
2.Their products (i.e. Irresponsible waste disposal, CFC gas from fridges)
• Historical Perspective (ie where we have come from – prior to the introduction of the innovation)
Point 1.
Looking at the history behind fossil fuels and how it came to be used with the technology we have.
Point 1a. (Producing energy from fossil fuels in the past, 1800s)
Industrial Revolution age, fossil fuels were burnt and used to generate steam to power the steam engines. Later on, AC generator was developed by Nikolai Tesla to generate electricity through turbines.
Research:
Past way of generating electricity from fossil fuels:
http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/01419/electricitytext.html
Point 1b. (Efficiency of energy use in products)
-depends on the research, to be continued-
Summary:
-depends on the research, to be continued-
Research:
General history of fossil fuels:
Variety of products made through the use of fossil fuels as time goes by:
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• Current Situation (ie where we are today – how the innovation has changed things)
Point 1.
Fossil fuels (mainly coal-burning) generate electricity. Electrical energy can be channeled into almost any source. 9999 ways to use electricity but only 1 plausible way to generate it!
Point 1a. (Producing energy from fossil fuels, in the present)
Today, fossil fuels are used in electricity plants. Much more efficient, but used in large quantities = much more pollution.
Research:
Present way of generating electricity from fossil fuels:
Efficiency of using fossil fuels vs in the past:
Point 1b. (Products that use fossil fuels effectively)
People were thinking of only different ways of using electricity, maximizing its efficiency in production, rather than maximizing its potential in sustainable energy.
Research:
IPP Toolbox from the EU
Summary Point 1.
-depends on research-
Havent realized that costs are much higher than actually allocated, when environmental costs are included.
Research:
Shows effect of carbon taxes on products:
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• Future Considerations (ie where we might go – how you foresee things going in future)
Fossil fuels – characterized by low costs of production, high payouts
Point 1.
I believe we are going towards yet another “fossil fuel”, nuclear energy.
Why? Low costs, high efficiency, but haven’t found a way to dispose of waste material. Many countries now trying to utilize this new source of energy rather than green tech.
Research:
Shows the viability of nuclear energy through its costs
Comparison of fossil fuels vs nuclear energy (Table):
Shows widespread acceptance of nuclear energy in recent months rather than green technology, due to the distorted market forces, even though there are many social implications.
Point 2.
Better alternative would be to head towards green technology.
Point 2a. (Producing green energy)
Green tech in producing the energy: e.g. Solar/Wind/Hydroelectric power
Research:
Shows the amount of carbon emissions vs fossil fuels.
Point 2b. (Products utilizing green energy effectively)
Green tech in utilizing the energy: e.g. electric cars
Research:
However, it even though it is reliable and efficient, the general acceptance of green technology is not there yet.
How China has not changed consumerism patterns towards green tech:
Summary (Point 1 vs Point 2).
Green technologies currently not viable, but its only because of inefficient allocation of resources towards the cause. Even though, in actual fact, green energy might have actually been cheaper than fossil fuels decades ago, inertia to change might have led to its downfall.
Research:
Shows the cost of producing green energy vs traditional (fossil fueled) energy
Graphic representation of energy consumption over the years, also talks about green energy vs fossil fuels:
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• Conclusions
Point 1. (Dependency on fossil fuels)
Even though we have recognized the banes of fossil fuels, it is so closely integrated with technology today that its benefits cannot be ignored. Given that centuries have passed with the same cost model in place, it would take years, probably decades, for companies to adapt to the new move to green technology (if there was one). Just like how most smokers need to go through rehabilitation before they can quit smoking, our “addiction” to fossil fueled energy will take awhile before we can say we are free.
Point 2. (Negligence of “nature’s” cost)
We need to realize that there has been a cost that has always been left out: the cost to nature. We have always neglected the fact that the activities we do, might have an impact on the environment around us, thinking that the world can sort itself out. Irresponsible dumping of waste (e.g. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch) has contributed to one of the many problems we face now.
We know what has to be changed, and know it can be changed, but we need to believe it can be changed. For this continuum to happen, mindsets must be open to change. We need to adapt to the turbulent times ahead of us, for the good of the human race.
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• References
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