Simple life or technology ??

Topic: Technological development leads a lot of environmental issues. Some people think a simple lifestyle can preserve the environment, while others argue that technology itself can solve it. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer include relevant examples.

My essay:

It is true that certain advances in technology have had detrimental impacts on the environment. While there are strong arguments that some environmental problems should be tackled by adopting simpler lifestyles, many hold that technology itself can find ways to handle this issue.

On the one hand, technology has greater responsibility to address the issue of environmental degradation. This is because pollution is mostly caused by industrial development. For example, if sustainable alternatives, like solar energy and bio-fuels are made more efficient and economical, environmental damage caused by fossil fuels can be reduced substantially. Similarly, further developments in recycling of plastic, metals and chemical materials also can play a significant role in dealing with waste materials that damage the environment.

On the other hand, there is a different opinion that people should lead a simple pattern of life, because the fact that luxurious and materialistic lifestyle of human beings has primarily caused pollution on the planet. For instance, if individuals increasingly turn to using public transport as the alternative to personal vehicles, this can greatly reduce the use of petroleum fuels which is a major pollutant of the atmosphere. They should also opt for reusable and durable products for their daily use with a view to reducing the amount of waste materials as well as saving a great deal of natural resources.

In conclusion, although living simpler lives can certainly help in solving environmental problems, it seems to me that advances in technology has already provided many solutions and this trend would probably gather pace in the future.