Read the passage given below and answer the following questions:

The gravest challenge of our era, as history has shown, is not technology, but pollution. Technology simply mirrors our evolving societal values. We notice that when the environment thrives, technology enhances sustainability, but when it's compromised, technology often exacerbates the damage. The tools which technology provides do not inherently pollute, but they can escalate environmental degradation. To this day, it has propelled us to the brink of ecological breakdown. Our principal concern, then, is not to limit technology, but to mitigate pollution – to replace waste with sustainability, global collaboration over isolated actions. This task requires collective effort, technologists included. It's evident that time is of the essence. The countdown has begun, yet much remains unaccomplished. We are now confronted with a pressing dilemma – can innovation and eco-awareness, collaboration and intellect, progress quickly enough to match our escalating environmental threats? This quandary will be addressed, for better or worse, by this generation. Technology has a role in shaping the outcome, but the pivotal choice rests with us.