DISMANTLING THE GREEN MACHINE: A CRITICAL REFLECTION ON TECHNOLOGY AND ECOMODERN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Abstract

Addressing the scale of negative environmental changes from the rapid expansion of human populations and economic growth is a critical policy issue in the twenty-first century. Government and corporate responses are directed towards engineering a new industrial revolution through the design and deployment of green technologies and products. Despite the widespread adoption of this ecomodern approach, empirical data show environmental conditions continue to deteriorate and are poised to continue declining into the middle of this century and beyond. Case studies on the environmental performance of wood bioenergy systems were used demonstrate the mechanics of ecomodern environmental policy. Insights from the philosophy of technology were used to conceptualize the Green Machine, a macro-technology system encompassing ecomodern policies. A critical reflection was undertaken to reconcile the technological optimism of ecomodern policies with the reality of worsening global environmental challenges and to underscore the limitations of pursuing green technology as the sole solution.