Promise of Sustainability ENOUGH?

4.0 is all about. With the recent fall of the crypto currencies, one does wonder if we will ever need more energy to mine that too? Still, we do not have the same luxury as previous generations to add to the burden of climate change as the consequences have become near irreversible. Extreme weather conditions such as droughts and wildfires with devastating outcomes have increased in frequency. As glaciers melt, time is running out for many places that will be left defenseless against the rising sea waters.

Fortunately, big data and advanced computing promises the appropriate collection and relocation of resources based on immediate needs with opportunity to personalize manufacturing, however, what does this mean for declining resources and greenhouse emissions? Digitization of supply chains is expected to reduce waste levels but there is still a need for solid replacement of fossil fuels. Fortunately, global trends show that the price of certain renewable energy resources such as solar power have significantly declined from where it started out. With fossil fuels prices on a steady incline, Industry 4.0 technologies may even supplement the accessibility to these resources in the coming years.

Undoubtedly, the issue of greenhouse gas emissions is more than the availability of different renewable energy resources, there is an underlying provision instigated by large corporations and oil companies because the use of renewable resources doesn’t fit their business model.

Furthermore, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has forced some European countries to return to coal burning, the dirtier fossil fuel. The United States’ short departure from efforts to reverse climate change during the Trump era also hasn’t helped the global state of environmental affairs. China may remain to its commitment to reduce emissions as the world’s largest emitter, but this is hanging on a thin thread depending on how the US is willing to keep its promises to reduce emissions. We remain confident in our scientists and engineers, and with the increasing connectivity, technologies will advance even more to address climate change and it may be just enough to alleviate the symptoms of a disease that is burning our planet to its core.

The best action taxpayers can take is to support collective efforts that strive for sustainability and fund research efforts to reverse climate change. Voters must hold governments accountable regarding decisions they make for the collective. Unarguably, this is no longer a moral issue but an existential crisis, that has been unfortunately oversaturated with politicians that have treated the issue as a debate rather than a matter-of-fact that we are on the verge of environmental calamity. It is becoming overwhelmingly clear that if we don’t reach an agreement to take collective action, the damage will become irreversible. Fortunately, Industry 4.0 can help with connectivity as it allows for the congregation of people and ideas across the globe to act in favor of reverting climate change.

Another concern in the era of Industry 4.0 is the loss of jobs and the increasing skill gap. Undoubtedly, as AI and robots are implemented to replace those in low skill jobs, the rates of unemployment and the demand for highly technical skills is expected to skyrocket. Fortunately, the same digital technologies that are limiting the availability of low skill jobs can also help teach highly technical skills such as programming and problem solving using different modalities. With the recent pandemic having already set the baseline for online education and remote work, Industry 4.0 must continue carrying on the torch.

So, is this era going to fall short to address the current global trends and meet the needs of the environment? Or will it be sufficient to improve our current state of global burdens in a sustainable way? Many have argued that the current literature has analyzed Industry 4.0 from a technological perspective overlooking challenges regarding sustainability. But like James Watts, hopefully we will recognize that neglecting these global problems is parallel to wasting the steam of this era with no direction. This is no longer an issue of economics or politics but of self-preservation.