There are numerous
possibilities which are enabling today’s population to mitigate the impact of human activity on the
environment. One of the main possibilities lies with technology. This resolution
involves research into technical methods to help safeguard the environment
without the disturbance of human activity. In other words, “clean” or “green”
inventions are being created to conserve and protect the destruction being
imposed to the environment, so that we would not have to radically change our
lifestyles.
Over the
last few years, the relationship between environmental sustainability and
intellectual property has frequently captured the headlines. Patents are the
most significant vehicle to foster technological revolution.
Technology in the 21st century is becoming more and more
innovative with respect to ideas and the expressed creations of the mind. New
inventions are being thought about and made to help mitigate or reverse the
effects of human activity on the environment.
The fact remains that inventions and patents are the key to the green
revolution, for only technological innovations will allow us to contain the
effects of human activity on the environment.
For example, several brands of cars
are now “Going Green” in order to enhance sustainable development. According to
the CleanTech focused website, “CleanTechnica,” Toyota is moving and shaking in
clean energy patents and leading green technology patents for the third
consecutive quarter according to reports. Toyota’s patents were first and
foremost in the fuel cell technology. This will have strong benefits over conventional
combustion based technologies, in that, the product is water vapour instead of
greenhouse gases and air pollution which create smog and cause health problems.
On the other side of things, Nokia
is a mobile company which is trying to move in a more sustainable way. The
company has filed a patent application in which the phone will charge up based
on the movement of the user. Based on the article “Piezoelectric Kinetic Energy
Harvester,” reports are wondering if this could be the start of the next
generation of renewable energy cell phones. This will be a major advantage and
opportunity for persons in developing countries with restricted electricity
access. Imagine a person going about their everyday activities and the device
is charging itself. A patent like this is major news!
With this being said, these two
corporations, Toyota and Nokia are examples of industries utilizing more
ecological technologies. Imagine the possibilities that still exist for not
only industries, but us as individuals to create a more eco-friendly
environment.
