Cutting through Environmental ISSUES

Technology is a double-edged sword-one capable both of doing and undoing damage to environmental quality. This article looks at technology and the environment in 4 key areas: energy, climate, water quality and waste cleanup. In each case, the dual nature of technology's environmental implications is illustrated. The emerging relationship between the Internet and environmental quality, one that again seems to cut both ways, is also explored. Finally, how technology is helping to fashion policies that allow producers and consumers to recognize and internalize the environmental costs of technology and thus to spur innovation to clean up the environment is discussed.