Overconsumption and ruin: before and after images visualise how tech could harm our planet

A striking new exhibition in London aims to raise awareness of the devastating impact that our increasing reliance on technology is having on the planet. The show, which features stunning visuals and thought-provoking works, highlights the effects of fast tech on iconic landmarks around the world, from Venice to Iguazu Falls.

The project, which was developed with Professor Mark Maslin of University College London, uses climate modelling to predict the damage that could be caused by climate change at each location by the end of the century. The results are not meant to be taken as predictions, but rather as a warning about the urgent need for change.

According to Maslin, the environmental impact of our tech addiction is staggering - 6% of the human-driven climate crisis, and double that of the aviation industry. This may come as a shock to many people who assume that their daily use of gadgets has no significant impact on the planet.

However, the reality is far more sinister. The mining of materials like tantalum, cobalt, and tin for our phones and devices has serious social and environmental consequences, while e-waste releases toxic chemicals into the air, soil, and water when incinerated or dumped improperly.

The EU has recently introduced legislation to curb built-in obsolescence, with rules for universal chargers and a ban on manufacturers blocking third-party parts. But tech companies are pushing back, arguing that this is an interference in the free market.

Meanwhile, the UK has had regulations in place since 2021, but concerns remain about their effectiveness. As one expert put it, "Our research shows that people recognize the changes happening around them, but many still don't see how their everyday choices connect to the bigger picture."

In short, our addiction to technology is having a devastating impact on the planet. By changing our behavior and choosing longevity over landfill, we can make a real difference.

So what can you do? Here are five simple ways to reduce your carbon emissions:

* Find a piece of tech you're comfortable with and keep it
* Remember that your mobile phone contains precious materials that should be reused rather than thrown away
* Sell your old phones and devices to reputable reuse shops or via peer-to-peer sales
* Keep your phone battery at between 20-80% for optimal life
* Keep your device clean and remove dust from charging ports

The exhibition runs until November 17th at the Last Shot Gallery in Fitzrovia, central London.

this whole thing got me thinking... we're living in a world where our addiction to tech is literally destroying our planet . I mean, it's crazy to think that just a few years ago, us being "connected" 24/7 was seen as the ultimate status symbol , and now we're faced with the harsh reality of the damage we've caused to our environment .

it's not just about the environmental impact, though. I think this is also a reflection of how disconnected we've become from the world around us . we're so focused on these tiny little screens that we've lost touch with what's really important - like the beauty of nature, or the value of a good conversation face to face .

anyway, back to the exhibition... I think it's awesome that someone is finally raising awareness about this issue . and those tips at the end? pretty solid advice . but let's be real, changing our behavior isn't always easy . it takes time, effort, and a willingness to make sacrifices .

still, I think it's worth it . because if we don't start making some changes now, the consequences will be catastrophic . so yeah... let's all take a step back, reassess our relationship with tech, and try to do better .

I'm like totally shocked by this news ! I mean, I knew we were using a lot of energy with all our gadgets, but 6% of the climate crisis from tech use? That's wild! And to think that mining materials for our phones and devices can have serious social and environmental consequences... it's like, whoa.

So what do you guys think about this exhibition? Are we just going to keep on using tech until it kills us? I'm trying to cut down my own carbon emissions, but it's hard when everyone around me is still buying new gadgets and stuff.

I've seen some of the visuals from the show online, and they're seriously stunning. The idea of predicting what will happen to iconic landmarks by the end of the century... that's like, whoa. Do you think this exhibition will make a difference? Should we all be more mindful of our tech use?

this is wild that tech companies are trying to push back against regulations that can help curb e-waste and reduce our reliance on fast tech it's like they're not taking responsibility for their products' environmental impact at all... i mean, come on, we know that our daily use of gadgets has an impact on the planet, so why are they fighting it?

Tech is trash

just saw this exhibit in london about tech's impact on the planet 6% of human climate crisis is insane... think twice before swiping left and right for that new gadget

I'm literally shook by this new exhibit ! I mean, we're already aware of climate change being a big deal, but to see it put into perspective like this... it's eye-opening. The fact that our phone addiction is contributing 6% of the human-driven climate crisis is wild . And those stats about e-waste and toxic chemicals? No thanks .

I'm so glad they're raising awareness about this though. We need more conversations like this, especially among younger generations . It's not just about individual actions (although those are important too), but also about holding our tech companies accountable for their environmental impact .

The EU's new laws are a step in the right direction, but we need to keep pushing for change . As one expert said, people recognize the changes happening around them, but they still don't see how it connects to their daily lives . That's where education and awareness come in - we need to make this a priority.

I'm definitely gonna check out that exhibit when I'm in London . Who knows, maybe seeing some of these stunning visuals will inspire us all to take action ?

people need to wake up, tech is not just a tool, its our addiction, our dependency, we got to be more conscious about it , 6% of human driven climate crisis is still 6% too much , what's the point in having all this progress if we just keep throwing away , lets do better

I'm tellin' ya, I was just thinkin' about how I used to be glued to my old flip phone back in the day ... and now I've got a whole collection of smartphones that are just collectin' dust . I mean, have you seen the state of e-waste lately? It's like we're chasin' progress for the sake of progress without thinkin' about the planet . I'm all for innovatin' and movin' forward, but let's not forget that there's a human cost to our tech addiction . We gotta start thinkin' about what we can do to reduce our carbon footprint and make a difference... like, have you ever thought about the materials that go into your phone? Like, tantalum and cobalt? It's crazy!

This whole thing is so wild! I mean, we're basically suffocating our planet with all that tech, and nobody's even thinking about it . It's crazy to think that 6% of the human-driven climate crisis is from just tech use... That's like, a lot of carbon emissions from all those gadgets . And don't even get me started on e-waste - it's like we're poisoning our own planet . We need to start thinking about the impact of our daily choices and making changes ASAP . Like, if we just kept our phones for longer instead of upgrading every year, it would make a huge difference . And those five tips from the article are pretty on point too - keep your phone clean, use it less, that kinda thing . We need to wake up and take action before it's too late .

ugh i went to see this exhibit in london last month it was actually really eye opening but also kinda depressing at the same time i mean who knew tech addiction could be so bad for the planet? 6% of the climate crisis is wild and i'm not surprised people don't realize their daily choices are affecting the environment we've all been guilty of buying new gadgets just because we need to upgrade or it's newer

anyway back to the exhibit - it was really cool how they used climate modelling to show the impact of tech on different landmarks around the world i loved seeing some of the visuals and the info on what's being done (or not) by companies to reduce waste so yeah do go check it out if you're in london - might just change your perspective on tech use

I just saw this exhibition and it's MIND-BLOWING!!! did you know that our tech addiction is responsible for 6% of human-driven climate crisis?! it's like we're suffocating the planet with our love for gadgets! the EU's new rules on built-in obsolescence are a step in the right direction, but tech companies are fighting them hard

stats:
- 50% of e-waste is still not recycled in 2025
- 70% of the world's tantalum comes from conflict zones
- our phones contain more toxic materials than lead

personally, I've switched to a reusable water bottle and I'm thinking of upgrading my phone to something that lasts longer we can make a change if we want to!

gotta think about our future, ya know? I mean, we're basically suffocating the planet with all this tech and stuff . Like, I got a mate who's an expert on climate change and he's saying that 6% of the human-driven crisis is straight from our phone addiction alone! That's wild. And it's not just about the environmental impact, it's also about the social consequences – those mining operations are crazy, dude .

But I'm glad to see some progress being made, like with the EU's new rules on built-in obsolescence and stuff . It's all about changing our behavior and being more mindful of what we buy and throw away . Like, keep your phone for longer, don't upgrade just 'cause it's trendy .

I'm planning to check out this exhibition in London – sounds like a must-see . We gotta wake up and realize that our daily choices add up, you know? So, I'll be sure to share these tips with my friends and family . Let's make some change, fam !

OMG you guys, I'm like totally shocked that we didn't realize tech was having this massive impact on the planet ! Like, I knew it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows but 6% of the climate crisis is crazy talk!!! And don't even get me started on e-waste - toxic chemicals everywhere?!

And seriously, what's up with the EU trying to curb built-in obsolescence? Can't tech companies just chill for a sec and think about the planet instead of just making bank ? I mean, I'm all for free market stuff but come on!

But for real though, this exhibition is giving me LIFE ! And those tips to reduce carbon emissions are super easy peasy - who doesn't want to keep their phone clean and prolong its life?

I'm definitely gonna check out the exhibit in London ASAP . We need more awareness about this stuff before it's too late . Let's all try to be a little more tech-savvy (and sustainable) for the planet's sake

I'm still blown away by how much tech is taking a toll on our planet . I mean, 6% of the climate crisis? That's crazy! It makes you realize that just using your phone or laptop isn't as harmless as we think it is . And with all the e-waste and toxic chemicals involved in making our gadgets... it's just not cool anymore .

I love how this exhibition is trying to raise awareness and make people think about their daily choices . It's not just about tech companies, it's about us as consumers who have the power to choose how we live our lives. And I totally get why there's pushback from them - the free market can be tough to regulate .

But hey, every little bit counts, right? Even making a few simple changes like keeping your phone battery between 20-80% or selling old devices instead of throwing them away . It might not seem like much, but collectively we can make a difference . I'm definitely gonna check out this exhibition and see it for myself .

I mean, think about it... we're so used to upgrading our phones and gadgets that we don't even notice when they become obsolete . It's like, we get caught up in the instant gratification of new tech without stopping to consider the impact on the planet . But what if we flipped that script? What if we valued longevity over disposability for once? We could make a real difference by being more mindful of our consumption habits and choosing to repair or reuse instead of throwing away . It's not just about our personal choices, either - it's about creating a culture where sustainability is the norm .

I'm shocked by how much we're actually harming our planet just because of tech We all know the impact of climate change is real, but to see it quantified like that (6% of the human-driven crisis) is eye-opening I mean, I've heard some companies talk about sustainability, but this is different. It's like they're not even trying So yeah, changing our behavior is key, and these tips are super helpful Finding a device you love instead of constantly upgrading, selling old stuff responsibly... it's all making sense now

I just saw this show and I'm still reeling from it , you know? The visuals are insane! They showed how Venice would be underwater by the end of the century and I was like "no way" , but at the same time, I'm not surprised. We've all been warned about climate change for ages and we just keep on using our tech without thinking about it.

And yeah, 6% is crazy , who knew our gadgets were that bad? But what really got me was the mining of materials and e-waste. It's like we're basically destroying our own planet with our addiction to technology . I feel so guilty for buying new phones every year instead of just keeping my old one.

I love that they're raising awareness about this, it's time someone did . The EU's new rules are a step in the right direction, but we need more action from tech companies too. We can make a difference by changing our behavior and choosing longevity over landfill . I'm definitely gonna start selling my old phones and keeping my devices clean .