THE CLIMATE RISKS OF FUTURE TECH Will large-scale technology developments such as AI-driven systems and electrified homes create a sustainable, equitable future for Australians? Or will they place a dangerous strain on the electricity grid, be vulnerable to climate change and result in greater inequality?
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hese are among the questions canvassed by a new report from Monash University, ‘Scenarios for Future Living: Emerging technology innovation and development’. The research drew on 93 reports, expert interviews and industry observations to identify trends that are expected to shape the future, including the rise of AI and automation; an aging population and changing healthcare needs; and growing inequalities in access to housing and technology. The report compiled a list of large-scale technology trends that includes AI, home use of the Internet of Things (IoT), 6G, digital twins, and energy technology breakthroughs such as those in solar materials, battery tech and wind turbine design.
Under ‘Energy and the Environment’, it lists trends such as home electrification, rapid growth of consumer energy resources, widespread future adoption of energy-efficient households, and the increasing severity and frequency of climate change.
Impact on home life
The report predicts that demand for heating and cooling will rise significantly with climate change and household electrification, driving a need for integrated, smart and energy-efficient solutions across building design, materials and technologies. To meet this need, future technology trends will potentially include climate-driven demand for cooling; adaptive and dynamic building materials; efficiency in building design; smart
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energy technologies; electrification of heating; and smarter HVAC systems.
Future transport: electrified, connected and multimodal
Shaped by advances in automated vehicle technologies, electrification and aircraft, trends identified in the report include accelerated EV adoption; integrated, bidirectional and fast EV charging; micro-mobility; eVTOLs (vehicles that perform electric vertical take-off and landing); and drones. T h e re p o r t o b s e r ve d t h a t E Vs i n areas highly vulnerable to climate shocks could lead to a requirement for critical infrastructure to support high demand during times of climate emergency. However, it added that EVs could also become integral
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