1.2 The Powers and Perils of Technology

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Modern technology has led us to alter nature in just a few decades— nature that was hundreds of millions of years in the making.
Satellite imaging and other technology allow us to observe the harsh impact we’ve had on oceans, air, and land.
Technology can also be used to help repair damage to the oceans.
The carbon dioxide we’ve put into the atmosphere has not only warmed, but also acidified the oceans.
In the northern part of the Great Barrier Reef, over 90% of the coral has bleached. One-third of the Great Barrier reef is protected, but 67% is still open to commercial fishing.
Fossil fuels have brought us unprecedented prosperity, and that prosperity has allowed us to understand the damage we’re doing through their use.