We have long sacrificed the environment for our own advancement and modernization without regard for the surrounding biodiversity that we realize now we are dependent on. Steven Chu, the secretary of energy, stated that "a revolution in science and technology would be required" to stave off the effects of global warming and ultimately make better choices regarding our way of life. Unlike religion or military conquest, reforms in the scientific field can provide an opportunity to peacefully unite the world and, therefore, give rise to prosperity and sustainability for generations to come.
Ever since the advent of civilization, technology has enabled us to yield the forces of nature in such a way that we became both more successful and more influential than any other organism on the planet. However, we now recognize that our self-serving practices of exploiting the earth's resources cannot continue, as seen in the horrible ramifications of global warming. In order to create a more sustainable world, not only do new technologies, such as solar power, photovoltaics, and geothermal energy, have to be developed, old practices that seemed adequate some years ago must be made more efficient. Research regarding nuclear and coal waste management, as well as, carbon capture systems, must be made more efficient.