Dissertation1

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT USING LATEST TECHNOLOGY - HOW IS

ADVANCEMENT IN TECHNOLOGY HELPING IN SUSTAINABLE

DEVELOPMENT?

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CONTENTS

ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... 4

1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 5

1.1. Background of the Thesis ................................................................................................. 6

1.2. Research Statement ........................................................................................................ 10

1.3. Reasons for the Study..................................................................................................... 11

1.4. Objectives .......................................................................................................................... 12

1.5. Questions ........................................................................................................................ 13

2.0 CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................ 14

2.1 Overview ........................................................................................................................ 14

2.2 Sustainable Development ............................................................................................... 14

2.3 Significant Challenges.................................................................................................... 17

2.4 Over-Reliance on Technology for Addressing Conceptual Ambiguity ........................ 18

2.5 Environmental Sustainability ......................................................................................... 19

2.6 Economic sustainability ................................................................................................. 20

2.7 Social Sustainability ....................................................................................................... 21

2.8 Sustainable development in a more interdependent world............................................. 22

2.9 Current Role of Technology in Sustainable Development............................................. 25

2.10 Why Alternative Technologies Are Not Adopted .......................................................... 26

2.0 CHAPTER 2: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .............................................................. 29

2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 29

2.2 Research Philosophy ...................................................................................................... 29

2.3 Research Design ............................................................................................................. 30

2.4 Research Paradigm ......................................................................................................... 30

2.5 Research Methods .......................................................................................................... 31

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2.5.1 Secondary Data Collection Methods ...................................................................... 31

2.5.2 Quantitative methods .............................................................................................. 32

2.6 Limitations of Using Secondary Data Methodologies ................................................... 32

2.7 Data Collection ............................................................................................................... 33

2.8 Case Study ...................................................................................................................... 33

2.9 Data Analysis and Findings............................................................................................ 33

2.10 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 34

3.0 CHAPTER 3: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS ............................................................. 35

3.1 Sustainable city of Dubai ............................................................................................... 35

3.1.1 Environmental Sustainability .................................................................................. 35

3.1.2 Economic Sustainability ......................................................................................... 38

3.1.3 Products................................................................................................................... 38

3.2 London Smart City ......................................................................................................... 39

4.0 CHAPTER 4: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................... 50

4.1 Conclusions .................................................................................................................... 50

4.2 Recommendations .......................................................................................................... 53

REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................. 54

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ABSTRACT

Sustainable development is currently one of the most notable societal challenges that faces

humanity. Melting Ice caps, Changes in climate such as prolonged droughts, and the increase in

natural disasters such as unexpected storms have growingly become a norm as the environment

continues to wither due to human actions. It is for these reason that nations, corporate

organizations, as well as individuals in communities have launched various programs to mitigate

the negative impacts of human actions. These programs are part of sustainable development.

Although the term remains elusive to describe technology in its forms has been used to promote

sustainability. Nevertheless, as times change so as the type as well as the way technology is used

to promote technology. This Thesis discusses the concept of sustainable development in an in-

depth manner and how technology has been used in the past and can be used in the future to

promote the lives of future generations. The dissertation begins with background information of

the two aspects up to the point of convergence and draws a path to a better future as presented in

the conclusion chapter.

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

Since the dawn of the new century, an era famous for reducing the size of the Universe

through the use of technology, it has been the goal of most societies to maintain reasonable

conscience about what will be left behind for the future generation. As explained by

Baumgartner (2014), to some people the future is now and such a premise has been responsible

for the destruction of global resources and the catalyst for the excess pollution seen in today’s

social and physical environment. Nevertheless, sanity has prevailed at the same time as

technocrats in various fields have incorporated the 21st century technologies with their day-to-

day activities in the quest to promote sustainable development; unfortunately, little has been

documented about these efforts because they are novices in themselves (Atkinson, Dietz,

Neumayer, & Agarwala, 2014). Sustainable development or its principles take to account the

needs and actions of the current generation just as significantly as it does of the future

generation. However, one variable aspect of life that has remained constantly changing is how

the current generation has developed the means to over utilize these resources. In other words,

the technology is constantly changing and thus is consumption and renewal of resources as

further observed by Brynjolfsson and McAfee, (2014).

During the industrial revolution in the 18th century, technology was used in a manner that

inspired efficiency; during the second industrial revolution in the 19th and the 20th century, it

was used to exploit much of the available resources (Dempsey, Brimley, Power, & Brown,

2011). The consequences of the new era are seen today in terms of social, economic, and

environmental degradation. Nonetheless, as mentioned earlier the needs of the present are vast

and traditionally have taken precedence over the needs of the future causing a conflict. Over the

years, teams of scholars and technocrats have worked to solve this conflict and today, technology

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plays a major role in sustainable development in its key aspects: social, environmental, and

economic.

1.1. Background of the Thesis

Technology in all its forms (digital or manual) has been part of humanity since the Stone

Age. For antiquity, human beings have used technology to enhance their ways of life;

nevertheless, technology has been changing over the years and so has its use (Brynjolfsson &

McAfee, 2014). This thesis is set to discuss the roles of technology innovation has aided in the

promotion of sustainable development. The combination of rampant population growth leading

to depletion of natural resources, Global Climate Change, as well as environmental degradation

has led to consensus concerning the ability and need for humanity to come up with solutions that

perpetuate the survival and well-being of future generations of human beings (Change, 2014). In

the writing of this thesis, it should be noted that the concepts of Sustainable development and

technology stand as the principle points of discussion.

Atkinson, Dietz, Neumayer, and Agarwala (2014) hold that the concept of sustainable

development is not a new one despite its popularity in the 21st century. The United Nations

Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 set the stage for the emergence of discussion of

principles of sustainable development (Perz, 2014). As a subject of international policy, it

became clear to One hundred and fifty participating nations that there was a clear need to protect

the future generation thus the endorsement of UN agenda 21, which proposed that development

of basic sustainable needs particularly in developing nations. Nevertheless, a glaring weakness

was either ignored by most technocrats or simply underestimated (Williams & Millington, 2014).

As explained by Assembly (2015), most developing as well as developed nations were struggling

with the balance to maintain economic development and environmental sustainability. The

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society’s wellbeing was dependent on economic growth rather than environmental protection

thus; one had to give way for the other. Unfortunately, for years the current generation has been

centered on their own needs leading to depletion of resources that not only endangers the future

but also the current generation (Atkinson, Dietz, Neumayer, & Agarwala, 2014). In the 1980s,

there was a mono-disciplinary approach when it came to development and it took the form of

economic development (Griggs et al., 2014). The sustained increase of per capita income was the

main agenda for most governments as well as private corporate entities; consequently, social and

environmental wealth was overshadowed. As explained by Sachs (2012), during the last quarter

of the twentieth century, it became clear that there was need for a multi-dimensional concept of

economic development which would take to account the environmental as well as social

consequences known as the ‘trickle-down effect’ of growth. Additionally, Brynjolfsson and

McAfee, (2014) note that it became clear that one of the primary shortcoming of pinning

development in terms of economic development or sustained income per capita as a benchmark

of growth is that it failed to accommodate the query over the distribution of income amongst the

classes (Atkinson, Dietz, Neumayer, & Agarwala, 2014).

Brynjolfsson and McAfee, (2014) note that the new form of multi-dimensional

development linked technology and a majority of the economic aspects of development and later

this led to the use of particular tech in social and environmental fields. Nevertheless, in the mid

and early 20th centuries, the use of technology was not specific to solving developmental issues

but finding ways to reduce the negative aspects (Assembly, 2015). Currently, there are a variety

of technologies that have been specifically developed for sustainability such as the Sustainable

city in Dubai, which incorporates modern day technology with social, environmental, and

economic sustainable needs.

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In a number of areas as well as levels of damage to the global environment, have currently

reaching critical levels and the situation threatens to get out of hand rising irreversible changes in

global ecosystems. (Cook, Smerdon, Seager, & Coats, 2014) has identified interlinked planetary

limits, and discovered that in some areas, including all prominently climate change, boundaries

have already been exceeded. There is also undoubted proof for tipping points in the form of

ocean acidification, the phosphorous cycle, as well as stratospheric ozone weakening, while in

particular locations, the effects of environmental degradation may be limited to local in addition

to regional ecosystems (Nordhaus 2012). Prodigiously, these fluctuations are driven by the

dependence on fossil fuels to power economic growth, in addition to industrialized forms of

agriculture, essential to feed an increasing and progressively wealthy global population (Chen &

Tung, 2014). The all-encompassing environmental test is taking control of anthropogenic climate

change. The increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere particularly, CO2and NO2 is

a primary concern of environmental sustainability (Atkinson, Dietz, Neumayer, & Agarwala,

2014). The atmospheric CO2 concentration has risen from 260-280 parts per million (ppm) in

pre-industrial times to 391 ppm in September in half a decade thus leading to global warming is

by about 0.8º C above pre-industrial levels (Trenberth, 2014). Projections of future global

warming rely on assumptions regarding forthcoming development conduits as well as

demographic, economic, and technological developments, and thus are dissimilar in a significant

manner, but further warming is expected in all scenarios (Althor, Watson & Fuller, 2016; Danise,

Twitchett, & Little, 2015). The business-as-usual scenario produced of the 21thbcetury has been

interrupted by Climate Change particularly when facing the fact that the earth’s surface

temperature is going up by an estimated 4º C annually increase of global average surface

temperature since 1980-1999 (Nyhan 2014). There is also a strong scientific consensus that

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global warming is induced by human behavior, principally the use of fossil fuel and, to a smaller

degree, changes in land use as well as deforestation. Brynjolfsson and McAfee, (2014) further

posits that the extent of future global warming will therefore principally depend on effectively

using the sustainable development levers by reducing the energy intensity of GDP growth in

addition to the carbon intensity of energy, assuming that GDP per capita as well as population

continue to grow. However, current trends are not promising (Burke, Hsiang, & Miguel, 2015).

While the carbon intensity of global growth goes down and subsequently slowed down the total

growth in CO2 emissions has accelerated in the new millennium because of a reduction in the

long-term decreasing trends of carbon intensity of energy and energy intensity of GDP. This is

because, largely owing to the high energy requirements of intensive growth in developing and

emerging economies (AghaKouchak, Cheng, Mazdiyasni, & Farahmand, 2014; Davis & Gertler

2015). This challenge, in its most unambiguous state and immediacy, clearly requires a global

response. Nyhan (2014); Change (2014) propose a CO2 concentration boundary in the

atmosphere should be 350 ppm, which has been surpassed. Yet, reaching an arrangement on this

global response involves tackling difficult equity queries, as pile-ons to global emissions have

significant dissimilarity traditionally and continue to do so (Atkinson, Dietz, Neumayer, &

Agarwala, 2014). While developed nations are responsible for almost 60% of cumulative

emissions and therefore are responsible for a majority of the blame historically, they now add

little to emissions growth, which is driven by China, India as well as other developing states

(Cook et al, 2016). In fact, China is currently considered the largest contributor to global CO2

emissions after the country having emitted an estimated 9.7 billion tons of CO2 in 2016,

subsequently making up for 29% of all emissions (Cook et al, 2016). At the same time, the

steadying of emissions in industrialized countries can be elucidated in part by growing imports of

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emissions-intensive goods from developing countries (Atkinson, Dietz, Neumayer, & Agarwala,

2014).

1.2. Research Statement

The early twenty-first century global challenge were effects of technology. Nevertheless,

throughout civilization or modern day the Enlightenment, technology, particularly science-based

technology, has provided society with the promise of a better world through various ways such

as the elimination of disease as well as material improvements that have improved society’s

standards of living (World Health Organization, 2016). Alternatively, the resource extraction, the

emissions of hazardous materials, in addition to introduction of contaminants in air, water, and

soil have shaped conditions for unprecedented environmental catastrophe some of which are

already causes of irreversible damage to the biosphere. Unlike any other time there is a

significant reliance of technology to solve environmental than now because of the resources

employed in solving sustainable development issues (Wibeck, Hansson, & Anshelm, 2015). It

should be noted that technology is not independent of society in either its shaping or its effects;

new technology will have novice reactions to the society. The Technology fixes of the past have

given the current technocrats and scholars with an idea of how far technology will go when it

comes to solving sustainable development issues. However, the question remains, with increased

knowledge and resources will the radical steps take positive effect thus causing major social

change?

Sustainable development policies aim to alter the nature of economic growth as opposed

to limiting it. These policies are grounded on the belief that constant growth in a world with

limited resources is possible through the powers of technology. As explained by Weaver, Jansen,

Van Grootveld, Van Spiegel, and Vergragt (2017) technology enable humanity to find new

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sources as well as it provides alternatives when a particular resource seems to be running out.

Currently, technology is employed to find ways of effectively using and reusing what society has

been left with. The apparatuses of sustainable development such as economic instruments,

legislative measures, as well as consumer pressures are aimed at accomplishing technological

changes such as recycling, waste minimization, substitution of materials, changed production

processes, pollution control in addition to more efficient usage of resources (Looi, 2010).

The British Pearce Report stated that resource usage can be improved by fully employing the use

of recycling in addition to minimizing wastage. "Recycling, product redesign, conservation, and

low-waste technology can interrupt the flow of wastes to these resources, and that is perhaps the

major feature of a sustainable development path of economic progress.

1.3. Reasons for the Study

Every day the world is given another reason to support the premise that the future will not

look like the past. Prolonged droughts and flash floods in nations that are close to the equator,

the falling snow aps and rising sea levels noted at the poles, as well as the wild fires, hurricanes,

and storms that frequently hit land causing major damages clearly the world is changing (Urry,

2015; Poumadère, Bertoldo, & Samadi, 2011). The topic of climate change is currently firmly

part of the agenda of global science discussed by different technocrats as well as various

government across the world. Recent research such as that of Barkemeyer, Holt, Preuss, and

Tsang (2014), has shown that climate change is no longer an environmental issue only

considering that it affects the energy markets. The affordable fossil fuels as well as nuclear

power are aspects that are currently economically monitored in terms of emissions. Evidentially,

the capacity of the earth to accommodate waste, effluents, pollutants, as well as the use of land

has limited the traditional growth-orientated economic system that have been part of humanity

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for centuries. As explained by Halme, and Korpela (2014), such changes are currently being

experienced in the developed and developing world and have a material effect on the global

community. The changes affect environmental sustainability, social sustainability and economic

sustainability.

When analyzing the role played by technology in sustainable development cities stand out as the

best form of case studies. As explained by Weber, Diaz, and Schwegler (2014), because of low

energy efficiency building that were built decades ago and a complicated transport system cities

today are responsible for about 70% of all greenhouse emissions in addition to 60% of all energy

consumed globally. The study by Halme, M. and Korpela (2014), showed that the global increase

of carbon emissions is directly linked to urbanization with over 32 Gigatonnes of greenhouse

emissions coming from cities in 2016 (Weaver, Jansen, Van Grootveld, G Van Spiegel, &

Vergragt, 2017). It is also in urban center where technology is widely used to cope with

sustainability. However, there is limited information that has been documented about the

improvements that have been made over the years over the use of modern technology in

improving the quality of life in promoting sustainability. On the other hand, cities are not the

only localities that have been influenced by technology development when it comes to the

promotion of sustainability. The global agriculture and manufacturing industries, which are

mainly in rural areas, have been influenced to find efficiency in technology. Unfortunately, the

experiences of how today’s technology has played a role in reshaping these industries has

remained under studied.

1.4. Objectives

The main objectives of this paper is to:

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a) To analyze the role of technology in the quest to achieve sustainable development. As

explained role of technology has changed over the years; nevertheless, it has been part

the promotion of sustainable development for decades.

b) To analyze the latest forms of technology that are currently employed to improve

sustainable development. The digital era has seen an increase in technology use in almost

aspects of life, there is need to know how this technology can applied to promote

sustainable development.

1.5. Questions

In order for the study to achieve its goals the research will be based on particular questions as

presented

a) How has technology been used over the years to promote sustainable development?

b) How has technology used today to promote sustainable development?

c) What are the challenges faced when depending on technology as a source of change in

terms of sustainability.

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2.0 CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Overview

This chapter will be divided into several sections each focusing on different but related

aspects showing the link between Sustainable development and Technology. The first section

deals with sustainability as a principle. Sustainable development is not as direct as it may seem

because different technocrats have come up with dissimilar ways of addressing its issues. As

noted by Brynjolfsson and McAfee, (2014), sustainable development exists in form of different

profiles such as Environmental Sustainability, Economic Sustainability, and social sustainability.

In other words, Sustainable Development is vague and there is a need to have a comprehensive

discussion over the topic. The other major section of the chapter part features the history of

technology use in achieving sustainable development goals. Over the course of time, technology

has been used differently in these profiles in order to achieve the objectives. The first part of the

paper documents the use of technology in each of the aforementioned profiles.

2.2 Sustainable Development

Atkinson, Dietz, Neumayer, and Agarwala (2014) observe that there have been innumerable

attempts through books, journal, networks, and organizations over the last four decades to

examine the subject of Sustainable Development, bringing various definitions, concepts,

outlooks, concerns in addition to solutions for SD. However, how they link with each other and

provide a clear comprehension of our shared future remain a primary question to be answered

(Pearce, 2014). The Sustainable Development problematique is significantly influenced by the

institutional culture in which international discussions have taken place. The World Bank, for

Instance, identifies Sustainable development as the discourse of ‘financial, physical, human,

social, and natural capital’ (Atkinson, Dietz, Neumayer, & Agarwala, 2014). The development

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objectives of the UN are expressed in terms of human as well as environmental well-being,

couched in terms of major issue areas (Lu, Nakicenovic, Visbeck, and Stevance, 2015; Buckler,

and Creech, 2014). For instance, health, food, water, energy in addition to the environment and

in the context of international partnership.

Neirotti, De Marco, Cagliano, Mangano, and Scorrano, (2016) are of the view that due to the

lack of clarity and vagueness in describing sustainable development, a number of scientists have

explored the possibility create a framework that would aid in narrowing down the basic

structures of sustainability and processes to get there. As Aforementioned, it is clear that

sustainability issues may not be conclusively analyzed by research within isolated disciplines in

addition to the fact that in order to compare the complexity of the issues, a transdisciplinary

attitude is needed Missimer (2015). Additionally, both the ecological as well as social systems

seem to already exist in a complex parameter; subsequently, traditional linear logic might not be

an appropriate tool in this context (Broman and Robèrt, 2017). The Framework for Strategic

Sustainable Development (FSSD) is the best way to measure transdisciplinary approach and

insights from systems science. To avoid the reductionism that frequently comes hand in hand

with linear thinking, a comprehensive scientific comprehension ought to be presented when

dealing with trade-offs from the perspective of a future sustainable development situation and

therefore reducing the risk of creating other issues while solving the ones at hand” (Missimer

(2015). To address the vagueness imposed at the Sustainable Development, the FSSD has been

created to give guidance on strategically moving any region, organization, project or planning

endeavor towards social as well as ecological sustainability in an economically viable way

(Atkinson, Dietz, Neumayer, & Agarwala, 2014). This framework has now been under

continuous development about two and a half decade consensus as well as peer-review process

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including theoretical exploration, coupled by refinement in addition to testing with scientists and

various practitioners (Neirotti, De Marco, Cagliano, Mangano, and Scorrano, 2016). The FSSD

has been elaborated as well as refined in theory and the policies have been provided by a variety

of policy makers to create a different perspective on challenges and opportunities that may define

sustainable development (Baumgartner & Rauter, 2017; Missimer, Robèrt, & Broman, 2017).

This framework has also been applied to relate various tools, methods and concepts for

sustainable development to sustainability and to each other including ecodesign tools and for

company decision systems and has been taught and used to structure teaching, research and

cooperation within and between academic institutions (Lindahl, Robèrt, Ny, & Broman, 2014).

For an updated review of the FSSD with some applications, and for references; the FSSD seems

to be one of the most rigorous and systematic attempts to provide an operational definition of

sustainability and strategic guidelines for how to reach visions framed by such a definition

(Norton, Zacher & Ashkanasy, 2014). However, it has also become clear over the two and a half

decades of development of the FSSD, that the social dimension of the framework is neither as

robust nor as concrete as the ecological dimension (Atkinson, Dietz, Neumayer, & Agarwala,

2014).

Table 1. Varying Definitions and Perspectives of Sustainable Development

What is to be sustained? For how long? What is to be developed?

People
Nature • 25 years
• Child Survival
• Earth • “Now and in the future”
• Life Expectancy
• Biodiversity • Forever
• Education
• Ecosystems
• Equity
Life Support Linked by: • Equal Opportunity

• Ecosystem Services • Only Economy

• Resources • Mostly • Wealth

• Productive Sectors
• Environment • But
Community • Consumption 16
• And
• Cultures Society
• Or
• Institutions
• Groups
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Varying Definitions and Perspectives of Sustainable Development Source: National Research

Council (1999)

2.3 Significant Challenges

As a concept, Sustainable development embodies some of the most important aspects that in the

analysis of global challenge today. As narrated by (Broman & Robèrt, 2017), Sustainable

development in its forms has been forcing society to find and employ balance the desire to attain

economically prosperity with the responsibility to ensure continued social development as well

as environmental protection. Today, developing countries in Asia and Africa remain the most

vulnerable and face tremendous obstacles to sustainability (Höjer & Wangel, 2015).

Consequently, a good number of efforts have been focused on new technology (digital

technology) as a hypothetically powerful, yet available as well as affordable, means to promote

sustainable Developments. For instance, there are a significant number of international initiatives

that are focused on the potential role of digital technology in the empowerment of developing

nations (Atkinson, Dietz, Neumayer, & Agarwala, 2014). Nevertheless, the relationship between

technology and development is both positive as well as negative and there is a need to better

comprehend as well as determine which issues can be effectively addressed using current

technology, how technology can be used to give a better understanding of sustainable

development, in addition to in what context should the technology be implemented (Neirotti, De

Marco, Cagliano, Mangano, and Scorrano, 2016). Issues such as the existence of “digital” and

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“knowledge” divides, over-dependence on a particular technology as a panacea to all problems,

as well as environmental rebound effects are to mention but a few the factors that affect a

country’s aptitude to effect technology strategies for sustainable development (Turi, Goncalves,

& Mocan, 2014).

2.4 Over-Reliance on Technology for Addressing Conceptual Ambiguity

For the last two and a half decades, technology has growingly become part of society’s life. The

internet has grown to be the most powerful piece of tech that has existed in human kind

considering its connectivity is what is used to globalize all activities as held by Wang, Chen, &

Benitez-Amado (2015), and supported by Norton, Zacher and Ashkanasy (2014). Nevertheless,

as powerful as today’s technology is it is not without its flaws and there is a need for

governments, business entities, as well as individuals to avoid over depending on the internet for

answers. As explained by Pearce (2014) and Buytaert, et al (2014) although a majority of the

projects supported by the world Bank, the United Nations, as well as OECD are focused at

implementing technologically oriented projects for the promotion of Sustainable development,

each of these aforementioned projects is designed with a clear conceptualization of sustainability

(Norton, Zacher & Ashkanasy, 2014). Although technology particularly digital technology can

be a contributor of efficiency, thus sustainability the components of sustainability projects ought

to be driven by the cognitive ability of humans and not left autonomously (Atkinson, Dietz,

Neumayer, & Agarwala, 2014). Another issue is that there exists an over dependence on

technology for economic prosperity. The current corporate world is arguably the most adaptable

towards new technology than any other industry at any other era. Internet and mobile banking,

online shopping, online trading, as well as internet marketing are some of the key terms in

today’s corporate discussions (Coiro, Knobel, Lankshear, & Leu, 2014). With this in mind, a

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majority of the society has swamped the World Wide Web to make a profit of their own. In

2017, the Cryptocurrency saga served as an example of how the society perceives the power of

technology, particularly digital technology (Neirotti, De Marco, Cagliano, Mangano, and

Scorrano, 2016). In 2000, the ‘dot.com’ bubble burst and a significant number of individuals lost

their capital, the 2016 Bitcoin boom, is an example of how the society has come round to trust

the same technology. Nevertheless, it also showed a level of over dependency in technology as

noted by Pearce (2014) and Buytaert, et al (2014).

2.5 Environmental Sustainability

Wang, Chen, and Benitez-Amado (2015) posit that humanity is dependent on the natural

environment that surrounds every society or community. Environmental sustainability develops

as well as maintains the conditions that can be considered appropriate for both human and nature

can coexist in a productive coherence with one another while fulfilling most if not all social and

economic requirements (Wong & Zhou, 2015). However, since the industrial era, the main

agenda for humanity has been economic growth a move that has led to substantial consequences

such as climate Change and global warming. It should be noted that for years, different

campaigns have been launched to reduce the negative impact that humans have on the

environment; however, some school of experts believe the technologies used to do so may be

acting like a double edged sword (Tilman & Clark, 2014). For instance, it was clear that

dumping raw sewage in rivers led to the damage of the ecology particularly when the oxygen in

the rivers was affected by decomposition. Modern secondary sewage treatment technology was

the solution that most engineers came up with; however, the technology itself was flawed

(Dornfeld, 2014; Chin, Tat, & Sulaiman, 2015). The drained slug still contains some chemicals

or nutrients that aid in the blossoming of Algae; nevertheless, after the algae die the river is again

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depleted of oxygen (Viitanen & Kingston, 2014). In other words, technology has been part of the

solution that has seen the goals of sustainable development become achievable on a day-to-day

basis. The main aim for the adoption of green technology is to replace particular practices as well

as methods that pose a danger to resources while providing alternatives such as renewable

resources that are not only sustainable but also reliable. As explained by Wang, Chen, and

Benitez-Amado (2015), and Norton, Zacher and Ashkanasy (2014) partaking alternatives for

instance solar power, wind, and geothermal power the society is set to benefit from deplorable

fossil and nuclear through the reduction of pollution as well as maintaining a high level of

reliability.

2.6 Economic sustainability

Pearce (2014) and Buytaert, et al (2014) hold that since the beginning of the second half of the

20th century began, it has become clear that a large part of the society has become more

communist in nature with the difference in wealth becoming more prominent. Globalization and

the introduction of digital technology in form of the internet has seen more corporations as well

as people venture into virgin territories resource and market wise in the quest to make a profit

(Wu & Zhi 2016; Barnett, Darnall, & Husted, 2015). Forest are being depleted to increase cash

crop land, rivers are running dry as water is tapped in dams for the generation of power, the air

is unbreathable in some cities all because the rich want to be richer and the poor are striving to

survive. Pearce (2014) and Buytaert, et al (2014) further note that economic sustainability entails

a number of strategies that are employed to optimally and responsibly use the available resources

over a long period. Just as much as technology has been used to enlarge the wealth gap so has it

been used to achieve economic sustainability; for instance, in the health industry technology has

reduced the costs of dealing with chronic diseases such as HIV and cancer (Bhinge, Moser,

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Moser, Lanza, & Dornfeld, 2015). On the other hand, the utilization of affordable green

technology has led small enterprises to take advantage of local produce, engage in development

programs such as recycling, as well as reducing costs particularly when using green energy while

stimulating their own local economy at the same time (Dhingra, Kress, & Upreti, 2014). On a

much larger scale, technology has been applied to develop sectors such as agriculture through the

development of specialized tools and crop breeds that are much more drought, disease, and pest

resistant thus making good use of water and other resources with limited degradation

Other types of green technology options comprise of green building techniques as well as eGain

forecasting. Green building, at times called sustainable building, are structures which that is

constructed with sustainable material in addition to being designed in a manner that efficiently

utilizes naturals resources such as sunlight for either lighting or providing solar power (Santoyo-

Castelazo & Azapagic, 2014; Mullen, D.C., & Avaya Inc, 2014). On the other hand, EGain uses

weather forecasting to forecast how future weather patterns and how these changes will affect a

building’s structure, which can eliminate useless existence of heat, energy consumption, as well

as greenhouse gas emission. By planning ahead, one has the ability to eliminate wastage and

redundancies, which guarantees the longevity of our natural resources for future generations as

held by Pearce (2014) and Buytaert, et al (2014).

2.7 Social Sustainability

From corporate governance to basic human rights, Social sustainability covers a wide range of

issues. According to Popescu (2015), social sustainability centers more towards the philosophical

aspect of a society behavior as well as attitudes towards the different concept of sustainability. A

common argument as regards social sustainability is that vagueness and a pluralism of

definitions are appropriate and preferable over a single definition, because of the complexity of

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the topic (Neirotti, De Marco, Cagliano, Mangano, and Scorrano, 2016). In order for economic

and environmental sustainability programs to take off positively there is need for the society to

understand why they exists and what they stand to benefit from them Gjorv and Sakai (2014).

For example, it is hard to convince a society that has limited to no idea about the existence of

climate change to take up recycling for the purpose of reducing the carbon footprint. As

explained by Blohmke (2014) the current society is more inquisitive about their surrounding

considering the amount of information that is currently available to them. Subsequently,

individuals are asking of the values of todays “wants” and “Needs” in addition to the

comprehension of the future ramification of choosing a want over a need (Benn, Edwards, &

Williams, 2014; Magis, 2016). For instance, the overall results of driving or owning a gas-

guzzling vehicle as opposed to a less luxurious hybrid car such as the Toyota Prius.

2.8 Sustainable development in a more interdependent world

Banson, Nguyen, Bosch, and Nguyen (2015) observe that attaining the objectives set in Rio on

sustainable development post-2015 will necessitate progress in its four dimensions, which

comprise of economic development, inclusive social growth, environmental sustainability as well

as effective governance in addition peace and security (Kramers, Höjer, Lövehagen, & Wangel,

2014). The trend deliberated as aforementioned raise multiple challenges, which impend our

aptitude to achieve such progress in the future ahead. They also reinforce each other in myriad

ways, and therefore have to be addressed (Wang, Chen, & Benitez-Amado, 2015).

Strategies presented for the sustainable development by the World Economic and Social Survey

2013 events states that the changes required in local, national as well as global policies to

achieve sustainable development post-2015 require considerable partnership between a variety of

stakeholders from governments to individuals (Neirotti, De Marco, Cagliano, Mangano, and

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Scorrano, 2016). The transformative change necessary to address the challenges will be driven

primarily by actors at the local as well as national levels. Coherence between local and national

policies will therefore continue to critical for development. Policy decisions in one country have

regional ad traditionally global consequences, on the other hand currently such externalities be

they positive or negative are not taken sufficiently into account in decision-making processes

(Pearce, 2014; Nilsson, et al., 2014). Coherence in national development strategies implies most

fundamentally that socioeconomic development strategies aim to avoid further environmental

distress. Developed nations in particular are obligated to address unsustainable consumption as

well as production patterns in addition to their continuously rising environmental impact, while

emerging as well as developing economies need to pursue the objectives of greening their catch-

up growth (Seroka-Stolka, 2014). At the global level, the human development agenda and the

goal of environmental protection have to be jointly pursued. Banson, Nguyen, Bosch, and

Nguyen (2015) posit that developed countries in particular would make moves towards

sustainable production and consumption, while developing countries would offer greater

cooperation in meeting climate and other global challenges. Such a global consensus on

sustainable development will be based on solidarity, with human development and

environmental protection as integrated and universal goals for all countries as noted by Banson,

Nguyen, Bosch, and Nguyen (2015).

Regardless of the clear benefits that are offered by sustainable development there is need to

know that it is often complicated to support small to medium enterprises (SMEs) when it comes

to using green energy as well as other sustainable practices because of the initial costs. As

presented by (Ignatavičius, Tvaronavičienė, & Piccinetti, 2015), due to issues such as costs most

individuals and at times organizations opt to go for much readily available affordable options

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that may not be sustainable. Faced with similar situations over a long period it is possible that the

promises of sustainable development will be in the distant future itself (Santoyo-Castelazo &

Azapagic, 2014; Mullen, & Avaya Inc, 2014). Couple, this problem with the fact that all

societies and people feel it is part of their right to be alive to have the best of everything

available regardless of the cost then it becomes clear how much technology is needed to find a

balance between growth and sustenance. To promote economic as well as environmental

sustainability as explained by Banson, Nguyen, Bosch, and Nguyen (2015), there is need to

invest into the education of the community. For example, while addressing the conservation of

energy the society should be taught about the importance of turning off the lights when not

needed in a room. The same applies with conserving water and recycling, the use of chemicals

when cultivating crops in addition to sustainable building (Santoyo-Castelazo & Azapagic, 2014;

Mullen, & Avaya Inc, 2014).

As Wang, Chen, and Benitez-Amado (2015) hold, the 21st century is considered as the

digital era, a period when technology is part of society’s day-to-day. In a similar manner,

technology plays a major role in promoting sustainability in the three aforementioned levels; for

instance, in the corporate world car manufacturers have shifted from developing fuel-efficient

engines that reduce carbon emissions to developing hybrids and eventually electric vehicles (Wu

& Zhi, 2016). In other words, technology is building upon an already set blueprint in today’s

environment as a means of sustainable development. Building materials in the construction

industry, foods on famer’s market shelves as well as farms, clothes, as well as intricate processes

such as power generation have all seen improved innovation that would have been considered

technology for the far future generations today (Santoyo-Castelazo & Azapagic, 2014).

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It is significant that embedding SD into mainstream policies for international cooperation in

science and technology has been underdeveloped, particularly at the global level. However, it is

just as significant that where major partnerships in S&T exist between developed and developing

countries, SD issues are often in the forefront, often in the context of technical aid to the

developing countries (Atkinson, Dietz, Neumayer, & Agarwala, 2014) and amongst countries

that are not directly involved in such cooperative ventures. It also presupposes a model of

innovation as emerging from the developed world to be subsequently adapted by the developing

world, whereas the reality of innovation is far more complex and evenly distributed than

typically acknowledged by the ‘donor’ countries according to Banson, Nguyen, Bosch, and

Nguyen (2015).

2.9 Current Role of Technology in Sustainable Development

For decades, cleaning technology has been used in the effort to clean up the environment rather

than the employment of clean technologies. As explained by Ignatavičius, Tvaronavičienė, and

Piccinetti, 2015), for years, the society has centered much of its efforts to control and reduce

degradation or pollution. Currently, there is a change in such trends through the introduction as

well as the advancement in “end-of-pipe technologies”. End-of-pipe technologies are strategies

that adopt new ‘clean’ forms of technologies that change process of production thus having

improved environmental results from the beginning (Allan, Jaffe, & Sin, 2014). The concept of

end-of-pipe technologies was suggested by Cramer and Zegveld who stated that for technology

to support sustainable development there was need for the creation of a process that would

require less water, energy, and raw materials, as well as that reduce waste discharge (Norton,

Zacher & Ashkanasy, 2014).

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As study by The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD, showed that

most investment in pollution control involved end-of pipe technologies, with an estimated 20%

being used for the development of cleaner production (Neirotti, De Marco, Cagliano, Mangano,

and Scorrano, 2016). The reasons for this is cleaner technologies are not always available and, in

the instance that even they are, companies traditionally find it hard to replace their old

technologies until the equipment they have run their useful life. In addition, most entities prefer

to keep their costs of organizational changes at a minimum because they like to play it safe when

it comes to investment in pollution management (Allan, Jaffe, & Sin, 2014).

2.10 Why Alternative Technologies Are Not Adopted

Over the years, different forms of technology have been developed in the quest to

promote sustainability, however, not all of these options as well as alternatives have been fully

explored. As explained by Guerin (2017) the main reason why some technologies are not used in

sustainable development is because of costs or they are less economical when employed.

Currently, there are entities that have failed to implement particular technologies aimed at waste

reduction despite their availability because of probable cost savings (Allan, Jaffe, & Sin, 2014).

On the other hand, the main reason for the reluctance of many engineers to adopt to alternative

technologies may somewhat be elaborated in terms of technological paradigms; for example, the

lack of or the availability of equipment and expertise (Simianer, 2016). Clearly there is a

particular trajectory followed by the adoption of technology first it has to be affordable and

second it has to make economic sense. In addition, logically technology changes over time and

when the right time comes for a particular type of tech to hit the market, the engineers play a

major role in promoting it. For example, the advance of sewerage engineering. Currently,

Banson, Nguyen, Bosch, and Nguyen (2015) note that the process of treating sewerage takes

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place in three stages namely primary, secondary, and tertiary, with one process building from the

other. The waste product is expected to be carried by pipes and deposited in waterways such as

rivers after the third stage has been completed because most contaminants have been removed. In

case there is a new technology that is developed it has to either fit the first, second, of third

paradigm or it runs the risk of being ignored all tougher (Pagell & Shevchenko, 2014). For

example, the new bio-digestible technology where algae enzymes are introduced to the slug to

reduce any form of oxygen depriving bacteria is developed for the second stage of the process

that deals with the decomposition of the sewerage. This technology is currently being used at the

Jebel Ali Sewage Treatment Plant in Dubai where the second stage includes the introduction of

algae and nitrogen removal (Neirotti, De Marco, Cagliano, Mangano, and Scorrano, 2016).

Capacity building, science, and technology are key mainstays of the Means of Implementation of

the Post-2015 Agenda and of the Rio+20 follow-up processes. The research, development,

deployment, as well as widespread diffusion of ecologically sound technologies in the context of

a Green Economy is also diligently related to other core elements as well as means of

application, including innovation, business opportunities in addition to development, trade of

environmental goods and services, finance and investment, plus institutional capabilities.

Banson, Nguyen, Bosch, and Nguyen (2015) are of the view that hardware, software, expertise

(intellectual technology), in addition to other technologies is a significant tool for sustainable

development. They can be influential in guaranteeing that the society has access to clean water,

clean energy, clean environment, and manage natural resources (Neirotti, De Marco, Cagliano,

Mangano, and Scorrano, 2016). Nevertheless, it should be noted that these technology are double

edge and only work efficiently when used for their right purposes. In the first industrial

revolution, technology was used to increase efficiency by reducing load. For instance, it was

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easier to farm because of the cattle plough (Allan, Jaffe, & Sin, 2014). In the second industrial

revolution technology was used to exploit resources through mass production. Technology was

used to produce more than what the current population need just because it was available (cite).

Currently, advances in technology are being used to reverse this effect and it begins with simple

technology such as recycling. The society has been subject to being responsible for their actions

for the greater good and this is the reason celebrities are seen driving hybrid cars and every

corporate giant that wishes to survive in a highly competitive economic environment has a CSR

program. Nevertheless, the relationship between technology and sustainability goes beyond this

(Neirotti, De Marco, Cagliano, Mangano, and Scorrano, 2016).

The most significant challenge that faces entities be it corporate entities or when realizing

sustainable development goals is, obtaining as well as putting in place the necessary technologies

to achieve their objectives (Allan, Jaffe, & Sin, 2014). While access to technology is reliant to a

degree on financial resources, there are several issues that hinder an entity from acquiring a

technology that may improve sustainable development. In a variety of instances, legal as well as

institutional frameworks impede the importation or exportation, transfer, delivery, and use of

technologies for essential for sustainable development (Schelly, 2014; Doss, 2016). For example,

quotas and tariffs can influence the ability to import technologies while on the other hand;

subsidies may promote the use of technologies that might help in the reduction of wastage of

energy, water, or other resources as held by Banson, Nguyen, Bosch, and Nguyen (2015).

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2.0 CHAPTER 2: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

2.1 Introduction

This research is aimed at understanding the role played by technology in sustainable

development. The study will require the implementation of various research techniques to

analyze the continued use of technology in the promotion of sustainable development in human

history. Over the years, it has become clear that economically, environmentally, and socially the

future of humanity is under significant threat and there is a need to use technology to change

certain trends.

2.2 Research Philosophy

As stated in chapter one of the study there research aims to achieve two primary objectives

namely understanding the role of technology in sustainable development and underlying the

potentials of applying new technology in the promotion of sustainable development. To achieve

these objectives there is need for the study to develop a system that highlights the aptitude

(strengths and weaknesses) of gathering and analyzing data collected (Athanasou, 2012). A

research philosophy is founded upon several hypotheses, which in the case the researcher is

assumes that technology is part of sustainable development. Technology plays both a negative

and a positive role in promoting sustainability. Lastly, future is dependent on innovation of

existing technology or the development of new tech that would aid in the protection of the future

generation.

The research philosophy for this study is made up of two part of the aforementioned hypothesis

namely the epistemology, which is the known phenomenon about the relationship between a

dependent and independent variable. In this case, it is clear that from the mid-20th century

technology has growingly become embedded to how life is either negatively or positively. The

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second part of the research is the doxology, which is the factors that is believed to be true but

without a conclusive outcome. In this case, although technology has growingly become part of

daily life; how has it been used over the years to aid in promoting sustainability; in addition, how

has it been improved to cater for the sustainability needs of today.

2.3 Research Design

Within the research philosophy is the research design which is defined as the process that a

research takes to achieve its objective requirements (Coleman, 2014). In this case, a summary of

the objective is to show the link between technological growth and its influence on sustainable

development. A research design is founded on the logic behind the research questions and

ensures the data collected is appropriate to the goals and the hypothesis developed by the

independent and independent variables (Kothari, 2014). Through a deepened reflection of this

research’s aim and objectives, this particular method will be used to identify the hypothetic

overview of how technology in its different forms either physical or digital has been used over

the past or creates a potential for future use in the promotion of a sustainable future (Knowles &

Cole, 2013). The quantitative method comparatively is engaged in satisfying the interests of the

researcher. The quantitative form of research usually comprises of closed-end questions that

enable the researcher to acquire accurate, abundant, and substantial information on the research

topic.

2.4 Research Paradigm

A researcher is expected to view the study through “a lens through which we view the world”

Singh (2012). This provides a clearer view of what is expected of them in achieving the

objectives of a study. In the context of research, it is the lens that influences how technology has

and continues to play a role in promoting sustainable development. Some also call this a

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worldview or epistemologies or ontologies. Individual researchers should “make personalized

use of a wide range of philosophical ideas they espouse”; this means the philosophical

worldview recommended in the study. When engaging in the study of ontologies, one usually

encounters two dominant streams - objectivism and subjectivism (Johnson & Onwuegbuzie,

2014). Objectivism refers to the idea that (social) phenomena have an existence that is

independent and external to the actor, while subjectivism proposes that all phenomena are

produced by us through perception and human interaction (Glenn & Gordon, 2014). These two

are traditionally presented as a dualism, which one needs to choose between in order to devise a

research strategy. The following quote summarizes the struggle (and a resolution) that a

researcher might face with this decision.

2.5 Research Methods

The research method to be employed in this research will be secondary research methodology.

The logic behind this is majorly placed on the fact that the two variables that make up the

hypothesis are expansive and it would be unrealistic to apply any primary research tool to collect

relevant information (Loughran, 2012). In addition to this is the fact that secondary data analysis

is best suited to explain such variables and their relationships.

2.5.1 Secondary Data Collection Methods

According to Loughran (2012), the best way for a study to achieve its objective when dealing

variables that demand for a large amount of data to be analyzed is by the use pf secondary data

collection methods. Secondary data is defined as the information collected by a researcher

through other channels but not first-hand (Singh, 2012). This would suggest that the information

gathered from secondary data sources is not directly related to the objectives of a study;

however, can be interpreted to meet the objective requirements. In reference to the texts

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highlighted on research philosophy, earlier secondary data is doxological in nature and is used to

transform a thesis topic from epistemological framework to an absolute answer. Sources of

secondary data are shared into two major divisions’ namely external and internal sources.

External sources for instance books, journals, internet sources, and magazines are more known

and used as they have a varied amount of information about a specific topic. On the other hand,

according to Coleman (2014), an organization has a wealth of information its annual reports and

these documents can be used to find enough information to answer a thesis question. In

reference to the current study, secondary data will be used to show how technology has been

used in the past negatively and positively before analyzing how it is used to promote sustainable

development today in different parts of the world.

2.5.2 Quantitative methods

A quantitative method is a popular approach used by researchers to conduct market research

Knowles & Cole (2013). Through its ability to draw diverse opinions and concepts in numbers,

has earned it a strong academic belief trusted to provide significant and substantial information.

Accordingly, the quantitative method can be applied when emphasizing quantification of data

during its collection and analysis. On the word of Coleman (2014), the quantitative research

method is preserved to be infused with positivism that is an applied approach to such as the study

of the role of technology in sustainable development. The advantages of applying this method of

research are that it caters for the dissimilarities that frequently occur while separating

independent data from dependent data.

2.6 Limitations of Using Secondary Data Methodologies

As stated earlier the study favors the use of secondary data due to is characteristics of offering a

large amount of information; however, secondary data has several underlying disadvantage.

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Secondary data may be vague to the extent that any interpretation to create a link through a

hypothesis may lead to false reading on a subject matter (Knowles & Cole, 2013). In addition to

this secondary data if not well gathered may give invalid information due to its outdated sources.

The changes in the 21st century make it relevant to use latest data to explain a prevailing

phenomenon (Kothari, 2014).

2.7 Data Collection

The data collected for this study will vary in reference to its sources. External sources such as

books, scholarly articles, as well as internet sites will be based on highlighting the role of

technology in the society and how it has influenced sustainable development. The secondary data

that is used in this study will be from books (ebooks), pdfs, peer review articles, as well as

credible websites that show how technology has gradually evolved to the position of solving

sustainability development issues that have plagued the society for years.

2.8 Case Study

The use of a case study allows the researcher to become practical with the project since it is

significant to use actual example than the literature review theoretical framework (Kothari,

2014). According to Loughran (2012), most researchers tend to have a sense of satisfaction when

they can show the practicality of their work as it validates their views and gives them

acknowledgment. This paper used the Sustainable city of Dubai as well as London as the

preferred case studies for dissimilar reasons.

2.9 Data Analysis and Findings

The data obtained from various sources in this research study have adopted various presentation

models such as; the use of tables, bar graphs, descriptive analysis and frequency graphs. For the

initial question statements and objectives of study in this research to be critically analyzed and

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addressed, received data will employ a statistical format of data representation (Loughran, 2012).

Statistical data is an efficient model that elaborates the understanding of a certain perception.

However, in the course of study, there are expected limitations on this particular topic.

2.10 Summary

The researcher uses the research methodology chapter to present the necessity of the

research objectives in this study. While deploying both primary and secondary data collection

methods, the study was able to obtain the related impacts of exchange rates to the exports of

automobile parts in China. Later in this study, the researcher will provide recommendations and

conclusions to the findings of this research survey on ways of safeguarding the Chinese exports

of automobile parts through proper marketing strategies that will sustain the impacts of exchange

rate fluctuations.

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3.0 CHAPTER 3: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS

As indicated in the introduction chapter the cities are the major contributors to pollution, energy

over consumption, as well as over population. Over the years, major cities such as New York,

Hong Kong, London and Dubai have been working on integrating technology into the

metropolises thus turning them into smart cities.

3.1 Sustainable city of Dubai

3.1.1 Environmental Sustainability

3.1.1.1 Energy

Firstly, the Villas are constructed to face towards the north of the city to avoid direct sunlight. In

the summer, this simple innovation helps the house maintain a temperature 10 degrees Celsius

which saves on the air conditioning costs. Second, the narrow streets known as sikkas found

inside the unit clusters maximize on shading. Thirdly, all the villas have been designed with the

latest technological amenities such as solar water heaters, UV-reflective paint, LED lighting,

cutting-edge insulation, as well as energy-efficient air conditioning all which reduce energy

consumption by an estimated 50% when compared to other conventional villas in the city.

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The image above shows the solar panels that have been installed at the car-parking center as well

as on top of the houses in the sustainable city in Dubai. As explained by (Elsheshtawy, 2016), the

sustainable city has over 10,000 10MWp of solar panels that help reduce electricity imports by

an estimated 30% yearly. From the information provided by the developers the electric bills for

residence in the sustainable city have been 45% less than those of their counterparts in

conventional villas have (Elsheshtawy, 2016). Solar shaded parking bays provide additional

power that is used to supply street lights, the bio domes, water features such as the communal

pool and fountains, wind towers (called “barajeel”), as well as public amenities.

3.1.1.2 Water

The use of traditional and modern technology use in environmental sustainability can be

analyzed when going through the Sustainable City’s water strategy, which comprise s of water

saving equipment for greywater treatment used in landscaping as well as in the bio domes and

blackwater treatment used in in non-productive landscaping (Alshuwaikhat & Nkwenti, D.I.,

2015). The use of ultra-modern taps and showers the Villas at the sustainable city consumes

about 40% less fresh water than other villas in the locality; subsequently, reducing demand for

desalinated water which is known to be a significantly environmentally devastating. The

developers contoured in a manner that the topography drains storm water into ‘falajs’, which are

traditional bio wells

3.1.1.3 Waste

In its initial face, it was stated that the sustainable city developers aimed at attaining 100% waste

management at the source. As explained by Alshuwaikhat & Nkwenti, 2015), the idea of waste

sorting was engrained in development of the sustainable city a reason why the disposable bins

are strategically and continently in each cluster unit to inspire the locals to separate their refuse

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at the source. The waste is collected by electric trucks or vans and later sent to Dubai’s largest

materials recovery facility at Tadweer where recycling and resale takes place. On the other hand,

green or organic waste is usually composted and used as compost used in the city’s landscaping

programs while other waste streams are collected and treated in different places. For instance, the

bio diesel production facility in Dubai receive used cooking oil from villas and restaurants for

effective disposal.

3.1.1.4 Air Quality

The United Arab Emirates is a hot place and the ability to channel clean cool water into villas is

clearly desirable. In some ‘barajeel’ the wind towers are oriented in a manner to channel less

humid cooler air to the plazas. Additionally, a there is a green belt that goes around the villas

providing significant ecological habitat for birds and reptiles while at the same time reducing air

pollution in form of noise.

3.1.1.5 Social Sustainability

Despite the use of engineering and other form of technology, the sustainable city has a

major responsibility in promoting a vibrant cultural sustainability amongst its visitors, staff, and

residents. Walters Kadragic & Walters) states that he infrastructure in the sustainable city

promotes sporting events as well as recreational events such as fashion events which is an

important part of socializing. The sporting amenities at the city include a community swimming

pool, cycling tracks, as well as green parks that are used for outdoor fitness. Since it was opened

to the public, the sustainable city has been used by a variety of organizations and individuals to

set up various events throughout the years. These events create a cohesive environment that

engages people from various areas of the world.

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Diamond Square offers modern healthcare service for adults as well as their children,

considering it has a separate department that is focused on serving children with special needs.

An international school has set a new standard for unpatrolled education, integrating

sustainability during the course of the learning journey, while conveying high academic

standards in addition to innovative teaching practices. For the younger ones, CreaKids nursery

provides an international childcare as well as educational brand. The programs or courses in the

nursery (and the school) will promote the progressive-minded sustainable prototypical of The

Sustainable City, and aid in shaping a new generation of empathetic problem solvers.

3.1.2 Economic Sustainability

The Sustainable city has been set up to be as self-efficient as possible providing amenities for all

the residents at a premium affordable price. An example of self-economic sustainability can be

represented by the 11 temperature controlled bio domes that residents use to grow their own their

own vegetables and herbs in-house. The proceeding from the urban farms are rechanneled into

the city’s mall as well as other services. The city developers also aid their residents in buying

electric cars at a subsidized rate thus improving their economic lifestyles.

3.1.3 Products

An in-depth analysis of the sustainable city shows that the villas were put up using precast wall

panels as well as easy-to-install construction components, which aided in achieving timesaving

in addition to energy-efficient targets. Sustainable development is part of the construction from

the beginning and not an afterthought. Additionally, the “cut and fill” processes used were

optimized to reduce the import and export of aggregates a move that further reduced the amount

of carbon emissions from off-site transport (Ibrahim, Al-Nasrawi, El-Zaart, & Adams, 2015;

Ibrahim, Adams, & El-Zaart, 2015). The streetlights are made up of laminated timber from

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selected sources and used tires were used as curb protectors on the same trees. The developers of

the sustainable city project set up the City’s transportation strategy in a manner that reduces the

resident’s reliance on transport while encouraging walking and bicycling. The city has car-free

zones that are only accessible by walking or on electric buggies. The Electric Vehicle charging

stations in different parts of the city are free cutting motoring costs by about 75% in general.

3.2 London Smart City

As presented the sustainable city of Dubai is an example of how technology is used to promote

sustainability; however, it ought to be noted that for most major cities such as London may not

adopt some of its technology. The sustainable city has existed for several years while London is

centuries old and already the heart of the UK region. The idea of constructing buildings with

reference to sunlight directions is not applicable. As explained by Kramers, Höjer, Lövehagen &

Wangel (2014), already established cities can only take up a maintenance level of promoting

sustainable development. In such as case the cities have adopted different technologies that make

them smart cities. As explained by Wheeler and Beatley (2014) and Neirotti, De Marco,

Cagliano, Mangano, and Scorrano (2014) a smart city has the ability of improving its resident’s

quality of life providing the latest opportunities such as social growth, economic stability, and

environmentally safe as well as dynamic environment. It guarantees economic competitively

(smart economy), which promotes technological innovation, productivity, and offers a wide

range of transformation capacity meaning its residents can change jobs much more easily. The

Smart city guarantees training and social interaction through cosmopolitanism and mental

opening. The training may be private and natural or government stimulated through taking part

in public and social services, taking part in elections, and taking part in discussions on

administration.

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Smart Governance

Smart Environment Smart Economy Smart Mobility

Smart Living Smart People

The image above is showing the profiles of smart cities from smart governance which is the

participation to decisional processes politics strategies and perspectives. Smart cities also have

smart environment and smart living. Global population increase, progressive decrease of energy

sources and their consequent higher cost, climate change and air pollution are some of the main

problems that the cities of the future will have to cope with to survive, transforming into Smart

Cities and focusing on Green Building and Smart Mobility. London is currently in the path of

becoming the most ecological city across the globe today. For antiquity, Londoners have battled

with pollution; for instance back in 1952 the city was covered in smog which ended the lives of

about 12,000 people over the course of one weekend (Bell et al 2004). As a consequence the

British central and London city council developed the Clean Air Acts of 1956 and 1968 in an

effort to improve the capital’s air quality. Nonetheless, over time the rules became outdated and

the air pollution has risen to catastrophic levels once again. This time round pollutants such as

nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter have been identified as the main cause concern. In 2010,it

was reported that air pollution in London was blamable for as many as 141,000 deaths, causing

an economic cost of up to £3.7 billion in the processes(Walton et al 2015). A comprehensive

study of the city shows that the air pollution in the city is primarily caused by emissions from

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transport or mobility channels. Currently, Oxford Street is likeliest the most contaminated by

nitrogen dioxide in history (Carslaw 2014). The number of deaths and relatable costs led the

current authority to develop, launch, and publicize the new net greenhouse gas emissions

reduction program that is set to make London a zero emissions city by the year 2050 as set but

the Paris Agreement on climate change concluded in December 2015 (UNFCCC 2015).

Meanwhile, as the legislation slowly takes effect the biodiversity loss as well as resource scarcity

in the city will continue. The pollution of the environment is currently manageable and is the

reason for the city adopting to new technologies.

Table 2. Number of fossil powered vehicles in London

Petrol Diesel Cleaner alternative

TfL bus (Central London) 0% 89% 11%

Taxi 0% 100% 0%

Private Cars and PHVs 42% 57% 1%

Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs) 2% 97% 1%

Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) 0 100% 0%

Sources: Mwasilu, Justo, Kim, Do ,and Jung, (2014)

The table above is a tabular representation of the air pollutions levels in the city of London by

vehicles. The most significant cause of London’s air pollution is its road traffic. From the data

provided the is a clear indication that tot reduce the amount of pollution there is a need to reduce

the number of Taxies, LGVs, HGVs and private cars on the road; however, the TFS in central

London may give a blue print study of where to introduce technology into the community.

Nevertheless it is clear that the vast majority of the vehicles on London’s roads are fuelled by

either petrol or diesel, which emit a number of harmful air pollutants, such as particulate matter

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(PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx and NO2). In 2015, the global electric car market had an

estimated growth of about 65% compared to the previous year. The UK as explained has had an

increase in EVs.

In the quest to reduce the amount of emissions on the roads and streets, the city of London has

developed a reward and token system that encourages the use of Electric Vehicles. Electric

vehicles (EVs) can operate electrically, thus they do not generate exhaust emissions. EVs include

electric as well as plug-in hybrid vehicles. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) work with

both electrical recharging and fuel, they have the ability to travel short distances in electric-only

mode, however, they use a mixture of fuel and electric power when going on longer distance

journeys (Mwasilu, Justo, Kim, Do, & Jung, 2014; Paskaleva, 2018). There are also the typical

hybrid vehicles, which does not have an electric motor, nonetheless, it use an electric engine as a

generator turning fossil fuels into electric power that drives the vehicle. The city also has a

reward system for Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs) because they produce less than

75g/km of CO2 (Hannan, Azidin, & Mohamed, 2014). Hybrid electric vehicles and their

challenges. The number of EVs in London has grown significantly increased over the last half a

decade. Statistics show that there are currently about over 10,000 electric cars registered by the

city council, a number that is over ten times recorded in 2012 (Cowley, Joss, & Dayot, 2018,).

Nevertheless, this number is significantly small as compared to petrol cars. In summary, there is

a clear indication that London is employing the use of EV technology to reduce on the city’s

most dangerous pollutant.

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The image above shows the number of EVs in London since 2011 to 2017. Clearly, the figure is

increasing exponentially over a short period of time from 1200 units in 2011 to 12,000 in 2017.

According to Neirotti (2014), the city has been investing on quick, rapid, or fast charging points

all over the city. Rapid chargers under normal circumstances charge a vehicle from being empty

to 80 per cent in under half an hour, fast chargers do the same in in 3 hours while rapid chargers

get similar results in 6 hours. In 2011, there were very few public fast chargers in London

causing most residents to shun the idea of EVs. Currently, there are more than 1000 ports across

the cities with the most convenient ones installed in super markets, cafes, and service station

(Cowley, Joss, & Dayot, 2018).The global market on electric vehicles, in 2017 showed that there

was a global growth of 65% compared with 2015. Today the United States hold about 46% of the

market, Japan, second country, is included in the Rest of the World which has 27%. Still behind

European Union and especially China, which have respectively 18% and 8% of total sold electric

cars. For the year 2021, the situation will be completely different: the European Union should

represent 37% of the market and China, in the strongest growth, would be around 30% (cite). In

2025, 8% of cars in the world will be electric, against the current 0.6% of 500 thousand in 2015

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London’s greenhouse gases emissions are dominated by the transport and construction industries

(cite). A study by Angelidou (2015), states that 75% of the green house emission in London are

caused by buildings; additionally, this figure is expected to increase to 80% in 2030. Renovation

of old buildings has been an indispensable objective for the city planners particularly during this

time when climate change seems to be at an all-time high in fluctuating weather patterns. The

organizers came up with the RE:Fit and RENEW program to aid in reducing the consequences of

urbanization in London (Angelidou, 2015). RE:FIT is a program that is developed to commercial

buildings and public bodies are given the opportunity to comply with new sustainable ruling

while getting enumerations. The RE:NEW is one that ensures that new technology is used within

the city particularly knowing that the city aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 65% by 2025.

These two programs are used to show how the city is up to date with the latest technology in

sustainable development as each deals with monitoring of emissions. In terms of dealing with the

transport sector or sustainable mobility RE:NEW has been at the forefront of replacing petrol

powered vehicles (Taxis for London) with EVs. Currently, the program is responsible for almost

35% replacements of London Taxis to EVs thus reducing the carbon emissions by 15%

(Angelidou, 2015). Additionally, same technology has been used to invest more that £ 300

million on the strategy to make sure that all 300 one-storey buses working within London are

electric while 3,000 two-storey buses shift to hybrid technology (already operational with 1300

hybrid buses already in service). Lastly, the city engaged a million of its residents in launching

the infrastructure plan of 2050 (LIP 2050) Angelidou (2016). Currently, the city developers are

already investing millions of Euros in changing building materials when building amenity

infrastructure such as schools and hospitals. Additionally, the program was set to adopt energy

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efficient technology for buildings in form of hydrogen fuel cells technology as well as investing

more in solar power.

Other than the adoption of EVs London has taken up new construction practice. As

explained by the construction industry directly has an influence on emission thus is cornerstone

of achieving the goals of a smart sustainable city. According to a study by Angelidou (2016), an

estimated 40% of the energy consumed in the EU-27 goes to houses, public offices, shops, and

other facilities such as hospitals or schools. Additionally, in the household about 67% of the

energy consumed is used for heating and cooling purposes, 15% for lighting, and 14% for

heating of the water while the remaining 4% goes to kitchen as well as other electronic

appliances. From the various studies that have emerged about the building industry in London

the city, developers understood the potentials energy efficient development. The city currently

has a RENEW program where property owners are provided with reduced property rates for

adopting nee air conditioning and heating technologies, lighting, as well as connectivity

technologies. Most Londoners spend their time indoors be it in private homes or offices;

consequently, a poorly designed or constructed buildings have a negative effect on the health of

its residents. Additionally, such building if left in their original conditions become significantly

extremely expensive to maintain and manage. In other words, aged building are more

complicated to have in a city that has its sights set to being sustainable. The RENEW program

allows the residents to take part in building a smarter city improving social sustainability.

Another issue that is important in developing a smart city is the city grids as it manages

power in an efficient manner. As indicated by Kitchin (2014), the energy properties in a smart

city require a systems that is dynamic and responds to the energy demands of the people in real-

time shifting form peripheral nodes distributed in the territory towards the center of the system

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(distributed generation), and any local energy surpluses due to renewable sources, balancing

demand and supply. For instance, the Italian Regulatory Authority for Electricity Gas and Water

(AEEGSI) presented a blueprint on a new smart electricity counters (version 2.0) with the ability

to provide detailed reports to the users regarding their consumption to facilitate efficiency and

savings choices (Angelidou, 2017). On the other hand, Sap and Philips developed a system in

Buenos Aires in 2016 that controlled public lighting through a computer software a move that

reduced the city’s energy costs by 50% (Angelidou, 2017). The system was applied to 91,000

street lamps and has for years proved to be reliable and has the potential to be used in various

metropolises because of its simplicity.

Another aspect of smart cities is smart mobility and is considered the starting point for all

cities that incorporate technology into the metropolis processes. Public transport particularly

trains and buses are considered as two of the primary services that keeps cities running; however,

they are also the most environmentally unfriendly processes in today’s world.

The image above is a representation of the NO2 at Oxford Street before the day of the strike in

2015. The information provided shows that the emissions levels went to an all-time low. This

gives evidence of the transport sector is a major contributor of pollution. Smart mobility

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introduces technology as for of social investment by raising public awareness as well as setting

up systems that include rapid efficient movement of passengers. The implementation of

intelligent mobility in the transport sector through structural investment at low cost initiatives is

part of modernization that relates to the employment of low-emission combustion engines and

hybrid motors. London has also invested in carpooling applications that are managed for smart

devices. Considering that, some of the petrol fuel vehicles are left in homes while electric cars

are making more appearances London has quickly grown to provide its radiance with convenient

smart mobility options with the advantage of reduced pollution. As a bonus to its member, the

city has also developed smartphone applications that provide early warning on pending traffic

reports and free parking addresses in order to minimize on the chances of the city becoming grid

locked. The digitizing of public transport systems with smart palettes and cameras has made it

possible for the city council to collect more in terms of taxes.

Hypothesis 1. Technology has been part of sustainable development through History.

Science and technology is the most efficient way to enhance growth and socio-economic

development of nations as well as organizations. It should be noted that for decades it has

become clear that technological developments have a notable and long-term influence on income

distribution, trade, industrial structure, economic growth, defense and security matters,

environment, as well as employment, (Ignatavičius, Tvaronavičienė, and Piccinetti, 2015). The

acquisition in addition to the use of science and technology (S&T) are important to for the

achievement as well as sustenance of food security, in addition to the promotion of public health

and environmental quality. The significance of science and technology to modern societies as

well as the role of a technologically educated population cannot be understate. In the context of

this thesis, the action of the current generation of humanity in depleting natural resources in

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order to meet prevailing demands has created a dangerous situation for the future generation.

Climate change or global warming has become a common topic of discussion from the White

House in the U.S capital of Washington to the shanty in Soweto all because of prolonged

droughts and the constant occurrence of natural disasters such as hurricanes. Technology in its

most complex as well as simplest forms has been used in the past to promote sustainable

development. For example, taps or facets introduction in hospitals in the mid-20th century led to

decreased child deaths while machines such as CT scans have made it possible for doctors to

track major issues in an individual’s health thus heling in fighting diseases such as cancer. The

digital or information divide provided by IT systems regarding world markets have increased

investment as well as employment opportunities promoting social order and stands as a pillar of

a new global ethics stewardship program.

The universalism of science and technology has allowed it to play a major role in sustainable

development. There exists an intricate relationship between the economy, society and the

environment which exists because of technology. It should be noted that the technical skills

needed to develop a new form of tech requires a multi-disciplinary approach in addition to

calling for increased communication in order to address sustainability issues. Governments have

their own administrative frameworks that help promote sustainability, so do corporate entities

particularly through social corporate programs; all these programs depend on technology to

succeed. The confronting the water crisis; defending the soil; preserving forests, the destruction

of fisheries and biodiversity all depends on technologies. The universalism of science, and the

globalization of technological production and trade, offer unprecedented opportunities for

focused cooperation by scientists and engineers, and the institutions that employ them, to further

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progress on SD (Blohmke, 2014). In summary, the role of science and technology has been

crucial for years.

Hypothesis 2

From the first hypothesis, it is clear that scientific knowledge as well as the appropriate

technologies have been central to resolving the economic, social and environmental problems.

Nevertheless, technology is subject to change thus there exists an issue of how today’s

technology can be applied to promote sustainable development. The Sustainable city of Dubai is

a great example of digital technology can be used in the physical world to make sure the

environment is protected, social order is maintained, and economic balance is achievable. It is

clear that, the current technology has the ability to incorporate sustainable development from the

beginning and not an afterthought. On the other hand, when looking at the city of London it

becomes evident that old cities can be given a new technological make over in order for them to

remain efficient.

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4.0 CHAPTER 4: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

4.1 Conclusions

The role played by technology in promotion of sustainable development is direct considering that

sustainability in all its forms is dependent on the change of technology to achieve its objectives.

Different sustainability stakeholders from both the corporate world as well as governments take

tough and decisive steps toward forcing radical technological innovations as compared to

technological fixes. Form chapter one of this thesis it is clear that as days turn to years the past

may clearly not be the same as the future as the current generation is over exploitative when it

comes to using the available resources. For over five decades, the current generation has

embarked on meeting its demands through economic growth with GDP and Per capita income

becoming the new benchmark for success, and the higher the figures the more a government or

company is placed to serve and survive (Welford, 2012). Additionally, when such behaviors are

coupled by globalization the amount of resource misuse shifts to a global scale.

Over time, humanity has used technology to as an escape to find balance between resource

exploitation and sustainable development; however, the profile has been changing as the

technology changes. The consequences of global warming such s prolonged droughts, increasing

sea levels in oceans and seas, melting of ice caps and glaciers, as well as the occurrence of

natural disasters in form of storms and hurricanes have led nations to invest into technological

innovations and most of their efforts have been centered on cities (Ruttan, 2013). Cities are the

major contributors to modern day pollution and resources over use due to urban over population.

The measures of coming up with new technology for solving the current sustainable

development crisis requires long-term views as well as extensive preparedness in order for an

entity to bear limited costs while the affected industries adjust. As explained in chapter 1 the

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consequences of increased industrialization and urbanization are currently being witnessed and

technology currently seems as the main solution to this numerous crisis. Cleaner technology was

first adopted and implemented in the reduction of pollution in the mid-20th century. Nonetheless,

as explained by (Allan, Jaffe, & Sin, 2014; Mehta, 2017), the cleaner energy was only employed

at the time to reduce the impact of pollution but not eradicate it which is the target for any

sustainable development program. Nations such as the United States, China, and entire regions

such as the UK and the EU have their own objective when it comes to sustainable development.

For instance, the EU through its regulations aims to find social justice, respect to human life, and

increase in labor opportunities in addition to high environmental standards as part of the 2030

Sustainable development plan (Weaver, Jansen, Van Grootveld, Van Spiegel, & Vergragt, 2017).

While on the other hand, a nation such as China has embarked on a Sustainable development

policy that is centered on the development of technologies that reduce environmental degradation

as compared to social issues. The example above is a clear indication that the differences in

nations have a dissimilarity in what is understood as sustainable development. With this in mind

the role of technology changes or covers a wide range.

In chapter 2 of the paper, it becomes clear that there exists various profiles of Sustainable

development. Environmental Sustainability explains the environmental responsibilities of

humanity towards the surrounding. This form of sustainability is the one discussed the most

because its consequences are pronounced and affect other forms of sustainability (economic and

social). Environmental sustainability is considered the main form of sustainable development and

currently nations, businesses, as well as individuals have launched programs that are embarked

on reducing its bite to the community for instance in the going green camping where materials

used in product development are recyclable is popular in the corporate world. In the same

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chapter, it becomes clear that economic distribution and costs on sustainability are also an issue

of concern as they affect future generations. Additionally, the social perspective of the

community has been deteriorating for a significant amount of time. It is no secret that the current

society is faced by various challenges from terrorism to unemployment at a global level. These

issues have shaped the modern community placing the innocent future communities at risk and

forced to adopt to crude behaviors such as promoting corruption to have a chance at a bright

future. Technology in form of digital education is currently being used to alleviate such issues

from the society.

Chapter 3 is centered on the methodology that has been used to collect data showing the

processes that were essential for the researcher. The city of London and the sustainable city of

Dubai were used as the case studies. The two cities represent the two forms technology is

employed to promote sustainable development. Over these 50 years, it has become more and

more clear that all the individual issues amount to systematic degradation of our biosphere and

are not just one off issues that can be tackled individually. The issues and causes are interrelated

in a myriad of ways and include many uncertainties, which leads to the sustainability challenge

being complex. It is, therefore, also often considered a ‘wicked problem’ - a problem that is

complex, where uncertainty is high, where there is debate over values and where solutions are

not obvious. The underlying problem seems to be that many of our human social systems are

built on fundamentally unsustainable tenants and, therefore, entire systems change is required to

move towards sustainability. In essence, we need to find ways to strategically and systematically

transform many of our man-made systems.

Chapter 4 is grounded on analyzing the results from the previous chapter it is divided into two

sections the first featuring the sustainable city of Dubai and the second discussing the

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technologies used to change London from a conventional to a smart city. Form the discussions it

can be argued that technology is the primary promoter of sustainable development. There is clear

reason for individuals, governments, as well as business entities to invest their resources and

faith in the ingenuity of technology in solving the economic, social, as well as environmental

issues caused by the current generation. It is necessary to understand those roles of technology

change with time and a redesign of the systems today is the best way forward in order to apply

both technological fixes to the prevailing problems but also understanding that they are the blue

prints to what is expected to be new.

4.2 Recommendations

The thesis presented delivers an understanding of how technology has evolved over time

to the point of being applied on a scale large enough to influence sustainability. On the other

hand, it provides an avenue for the audience to understand that sustainability and its complexity.

Nevertheless, there is need to separate each form of suitability, how it affects humanity, and how

technology promotes sustainability. This allows the researcher to find more information and

make the paper more comprehensive. It is therefore recommended that further research in the

area be encouraged to provide more empirical evidence to the area of study.

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