Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, from genes to ecosystems. It is essential for the functioning of natural systems and the provision of ecosystem services that support human well-being.
However, biodiversity is under threat from human activities, such as habitat destruction, overexploitation, pollution, climate change, and invasive species.
Technology, which is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, can have both positive and negative impacts on biodiversity, depending on how it is developed, used, and disposed of.
A life cycle is the sequence of stages that a product or service goes through, from its design and production to its use and disposal.
According to the Hedgehog Company, a consultancy firm that specializes in life cycle assessment (LCA), assessing biodiversity in LCA is a challenge, because of the complexity and diversity of biological systems, the lack of specific data, and the trade-off between biology and LCA.
Land use
Land use is the conversion or modification of natural habitats for human purposes, such as agriculture, forestry, mining, urbanization, and infrastructure.
It is the biggest driver of biodiversity loss, as it reduces the area, quality, and connectivity of habitats, and causes fragmentation, degradation, and loss of ecosystem functions.
For example, the expansion of palm oil plantations in Southeast Asia has led to the destruction of tropical forests, which are home to many endangered species, such as orangutans, tigers, and elephants.
Water use
Water use is the withdrawal or consumption of water for human purposes, such as irrigation, industry, energy, and domestic use. It can affect biodiversity by altering the quantity, quality, and timing of water flows in rivers, lakes, wetlands, and groundwater systems.
This can affect the availability and suitability of habitats, and the survival and reproduction of aquatic and terrestrial species.
For example, the construction of dams and reservoirs for hydropower generation can disrupt the natural flow regimes and sediment transport of rivers, and create barriers for fish migration.
Technology can influence water use, both positively and negatively. Positively, technology can improve the efficiency and conservation of water use, by reducing losses, leaks, and waste, and by recycling and reusing water.
Emissions
Emissions are the release of substances into the air, water, or soil, as a result of human activities, such as combustion, production, consumption, and waste management.
It can affect biodiversity by changing the physical and chemical conditions of the environment, and by causing toxicity, acidification, eutrophication, and climate change.
For example, the burning of fossil fuels for energy and transport emits carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming and ocean acidification.
Waste
Waste is the unwanted or unusable material that is discarded or disposed of after the end of its useful life. It can affect biodiversity by occupying land, contaminating water and soil, and attracting pests and diseases.
For example, the accumulation of plastic waste in the oceans poses a threat to marine life, as it can entangle, injure, or kill animals, or be ingested by them, causing internal damage or starvation.
Therefore, it is important to consider the whole life cycle of technology and to adopt a holistic and integrated approach to reduce the negative impacts and enhance the positive impacts.
Some of the possible actions that can be taken by different actors, such as governments, businesses, consumers, and researchers, are:
Implementing and enforcing policies and regulations that protect biodiversity and limit the negative impacts of technology, such as environmental impact assessment, strategic environmental assessment, environmental standards, taxes, subsidies, and incentives.
Developing and applying tools and methods that assess and monitor the impacts of technology on biodiversity, such as life cycle assessment, biodiversity indicators, remote sensing, and citizen science.
Promoting and supporting the research and innovation of technology that benefits biodiversity, such as biotechnology, bioinformatics, biomimicry, and green chemistry.
Adopting and implementing best practices and guidelines that minimize the negative impacts and maximize the positive impacts of technology on biodiversity, such as the precautionary principle, the polluter pays principle, the mitigation hierarchy, and the ecosystem approach.
Educating and raising awareness among the public and stakeholders about the link between biodiversity loss and technology life cycles, and the importance and benefits of conserving and restoring biodiversity.
Engaging and collaborating with different sectors and actors, such as governments, businesses, civil society, and indigenous and local communities, to share knowledge, experience, and resources, and to find solutions that balance the needs and interests of people and nature.
