Developments in technology have brought various environmental problems. Some believe that people need to live simpler lives to solve environmental problems. Others, however, believe technology is the way to solve these problems. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Sample 1:

The improvements in technology currently bring about harmful effects on the environment. While some people believe having simpler lives is the only solution, I would argue that technological advances can help to tackle these environmental problems.

On the one hand, it is believed that individuals need to live simple lives and rely less on technology. The first suggestion is that people should walk or cycle rather than drive cars. This is because the current number of cars being manufactured and used is increasing, which causes high levels of exhaust fumes and makes air pollution a serious issue. Additionally, people should try to reduce their consumption of electricity so that the exploitation of natural resources such as fossil fuels or nuclear power can be minimized. An example of this idea is the annual event called Earth Hour, where everyone is asked to turn their lights off for sixty minutes.

On the other hand, I believe the developments of technology can greatly contribute to environmental protection. Firstly, because of those improvements, people can come up with ways to recycle materials such as paper or glass, which reduces the problem of waste disposal. Secondly, technology can also help to create electricity using renewable resources. For example, many countries in the world have built plants that utilise solar energy to generate power. As a result, it is not necessary to rely on non-renewable resources, and people can create electricity without significantly damaging the environment.

In conclusion, while some people think that they should live simpler lives to prevent environmental issues, I would argue that these problems can be dealt with by technological improvements.

Sample 2:

Some immense environmental problems such as global warming and ozone depletion in the Earth's stratosphere can be ascribed to technological developments. While some people believe that living a simple life can mitigate these problems, I contend that the best measure is green technology.

There is a common fallacy that a simple lifestyle can adequately address environmental issues. People may argue that by cutting household and transport energy use, they are making a substantial contribution to environmental protection. However, this method does not stop the massive energy consumption at industrial sites. Some may also claim that not using electricity at home is the right choice, and events such as Earth Hour are an appropriate measure to cut carbon dioxide production. Ironically, the aforementioned event is symbolic rather than practical, as most people start to light candles for lighting purposes, an act that produces even more carbon dioxide than light bulbs do.

I firmly believe that environmentally-friendly technology is the best answer to the problems. First, electric or hybrid transport vehicles can reduce the amount of traffic fumes that have been damaging both the biosphere and the atmosphere of Earth. For example, thick layers of smog in Beijing gradually diminished after most petrol and diesel cars were replaced by electric ones. Second, the use of alternative energy sources such as solar and wind can stop the over-exploitation of fossil fuels, thus reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, the main culprit of global warming. Finally, with the latest technological advancements, household appliances that once threatened the environment have become greener. An excellent example of this is that modern refrigerators and air-conditioners do not produce CFCs, a type of gas that is proven to be the major catalyst of ozone destruction.

All of the existing data provides a concrete foundation that advances of technology should be adopted to tackle environmental problems, while simple ways of life are ineffective and sometimes counterproductive solutions for these problems.

Sample 3:

People have argued about the negative effect of technology on the environment. A group of people think that rather than following the development of technology, we should have a simpler way of life. However, others disagree as they believe that technology could address environmental issues.

On the one hand, it is undeniable that the rapid development of technology has caused some environmental problems. Many inventions are beneficial for human beings, but they have a catastrophic effect on the environment. For example, the invention of cars that use fossil fuel has caused some serious effects on the world. The cars produce carbon monoxide, which is not only dangerous for living creatures, but it also becomes the main cause of global warming. Therefore, some people believe that we should change our lifestyle into a simpler one. One of the ways is by using friendly environmental transportation such as using a bicycle to commute. The bicycle is not only safe for the environment, but it could also be used as a way of exercise.

On the other hand, other people believe that technology could be used as a way to resolve environmental problems. As we can see that one of the biggest threats to the earth’s civilisation is the usage of the plastic bag. The waste of plastic bags has become a big issue, as they could only be composed for about 100 years. However, with the new technology, scientists have found a new way of producing plastic bags. With the new formula, plastic bags could be recycled; therefore, it would resolve one of the environmental issues.

In my opinion, I do believe that technology is beneficial for human beings if we use it wisely and proportionately. I personally believe that research for new technology should be continued, as we need to have improvements in life, but the government should review and monitor this research properly.