--- title: "Impact of technology on environment and society" subject: "Technology, Environment and Society" chapter: 1 key: "semester_7/technology_environment_and_society:tech-impact-environment-society" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/tech-impact-environment-society site: BCT Engineering --- # Impact of technology on environment and society Technology, Environment and Society · Chapter 1: Technology - Asked in: 2083 Bhadra, 4 marks; 2070 Chaitra, 4 marks (asked 2 times) - Video: [IMPACT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TO THE SOCIETY (EDUCATION AND ECONOMY)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo_em56XPuk) — ORVIN CORTES - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/tech-impact-environment-society - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/chapter-1 ## Question Explain the impact of technology on environment and society. ## Short answer Technology has dual impacts: it improves health, communication, and productivity but causes unemployment, digital divide, and cultural loss; environmentally, it offers renewable energy and monitoring but also pollution, climate change, and e-waste, so wise use and impact assessment are needed. ## Answer Technology is the application of knowledge, tools and skills to solve human problems. It has both positive and negative impacts on society and on the environment. #### Impact on society | Positive | Negative | |---|---| | Better health care, longer life expectancy | Unemployment of unskilled workers due to automation | | Fast communication and transport | Digital divide between rich and poor | | Easy access to education (online learning) | Breakdown of joint families, loss of culture | | Higher productivity and income | Social media addiction, cyber crime | | Women empowerment, awareness | Weapons of mass destruction | #### Impact on environment | Positive | Negative | |---|---| | Renewable energy (solar, hydro, biogas) reduces fossil fuel use | Air pollution from vehicles and industries | | Wastewater treatment and recycling | Water pollution from industrial effluent and chemicals | | Remote sensing and GIS for forest and disaster monitoring | Deforestation, land degradation, mining | | Efficient engines, LED lighting | Greenhouse gases and climate change | | Early warning systems for floods | E-waste, plastic waste, ozone depletion | #### Example Motor vehicles connect villages to markets and hospitals (social benefit), but in Kathmandu they are a major source of PM2.5 and noise (environmental harm). Electric vehicles powered by Nepal's hydropower are a technology that keeps the benefit while reducing the harm. Technology should therefore be chosen and used wisely, with impact assessment and sustainable practices, so that benefits are maximised and damage minimised. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Which is a positive impact of technology on the environment? A. Renewable energy such as solar, hydro and biogas reducing fossil fuel use B. E-waste C. Deforestation D. Greenhouse gases Answer: A. Renewable energy lowers fossil fuel use; the other options are listed as negative impacts. (Key point: Positive environmental impact) 2. Which is a negative social impact of technology? A. Longer life expectancy B. Online learning C. Digital divide between rich and poor D. Fast communication Answer: C. Digital divide, unemployment of unskilled workers and loss of culture are negative social impacts. (Key point: Negative social impact) 3. What does the motor vehicle example in Kathmandu illustrate? A. Vehicles have only environmental benefits B. A technology can give social benefit (access to markets and hospitals) while harming the environment (PM2.5, noise) C. Vehicles cause no pollution D. Vehicles only cause social harm Answer: B. Vehicles connect villages to markets and hospitals but pollute Kathmandu; EVs on hydropower keep the benefit and cut the harm. (Key point: Vehicle example) 4. What conclusion does the answer draw? A. Technology should be stopped B. Technology needs no control C. Only the environment matters D. Technology should be chosen wisely with impact assessment and sustainable practices Answer: D. Benefits should be maximised and damage minimised through impact assessment and sustainable practices. 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