The author does not acknowledge the point that e.g. air quality has improved precisely because people have complained about it.
The technological developments and business investments in filtering and related technologies would not have happened without environmental groups putting up a fight.
In a similar way, groups shouting about unsustainability are the ones who actually get people to think about alternatives, which in turn plays one part in moving technology forward.
Of course technology is moved forward by other things as well. But don't underestimate the impact of young people taking up PhDs in relevant subjects partly because of the high visibility of the debate about sustainability.
The technological developments and business investments in filtering and related technologies would not have happened without environmental groups putting up a fight.
In a similar way, groups shouting about unsustainability are the ones who actually get people to think about alternatives, which in turn plays one part in moving technology forward.
Of course technology is moved forward by other things as well. But don't underestimate the impact of young people taking up PhDs in relevant subjects partly because of the high visibility of the debate about sustainability.