10.4 - Green Technology

Definition of Green Technology

Green technology is the effort to preserve the natural environment through development and application of product, equipment and system in order to minimize the negative effect of human activities.

The Use of Green Technology in Environmental Sustainability

National Green Technology Policy (2009) focuses on sustainable development and economy growth of the country without abandoning the needs of the future generations. This policy is based on 4 pillars which are energy, environment, economy and social. According to the policy, any product, equipment or system that fulfills the following criteria below will be categorized as green technology.

• Minimize the degradation of the environment
• Low or zero release of greenhouse gases
• Safe to use and provides a healthy and optimum environment to all organisms
• Save energy and natural resources
• Promotes the use of renewable resources.

Green technology encourages the community to practice environmental sustainability and lead a better lifestyle. Some examples of practices on the green technology concept are:

• Produce own eco-enzymes from fruit wastes as cleaning agents.
• Produce natural fertilizers from kitchen and food wastes.
• Produce biogas from organic solid wastes.
• Produce flour from the skin of banana that can be used as an ingredient for natural bioplastic.
• Reuse kitchen waste and turn it into liquid foliar fertilizer as growth booster for vegetables.

Application of Social Science to Solve Environmental Problems and Challenges

Education is an important field of social science to form a prosperous quality of life. Environmental education has been introduced to create awareness and an attitude of concern towards the environment and the issues associated with it.

• Objectives of environmental education
  • Raise the awareness towards the environmental condition and the issues surrounding it.
  • Educate people about the environment, role, problems and the responsibility of each individual.
  • Acquire skills in solving environmental problems.
  • Cultivate a caring attitude towards the environment and the willingness to protect and develop it.

Other than that, communication is also a field of social science that plays an important role in spreading all issues about environment. The use of mass media, pamphlets, magazines, posters and films can create awareness to the people on environmental problems. Various activities can be carried out such as awareness campaigns, gotong-royong activities, cleanliness competitions and beautification of parks can be organized to promote environmental care practices.