Technology and Sustainability: Can Innovation Save the Planet?

Aditi Joshi
Oct 23
5 min read

Not long ago, technology was blamed for much of the damage our planet faces today. Coal-fired factories, gas-powered cars, and chemical-heavy farming practices were seen as the engines of growth, but also the root of climate change. Now, the story is shifting. From solar farms stretching across deserts to electric buses navigating crowded city streets, technology is increasingly being recast as the tool that can help us undo the harm. The pressing question is whether innovation can truly save the planet or whether it will remain only a partial answer.

For millions across the world, this isn’t an abstract debate but a daily lived reality. From farmers in Maharashtra whose crops wilt under extreme heat to families in Jakarta who breathe smog-filled air, the urgency of innovation is not in the future - it is here and now.

When Innovation Turns the Tide

Globally, the evidence is building that technology can deliver meaningful change. The plummeting cost of renewables has transformed them from niche experiments into mainstream energy sources.

Solar power today is nearly 90% cheaper than it was in 2010.
Wind energy costs have fallen by more than two-thirds.
In 2023 alone, over 14 million electric vehicles were sold worldwide.
Projections suggest that one in every three cars sold by 2030 will be electric.

Beyond the power and transport sectors, technology is reshaping industries in unexpected ways. Carbon capture facilities in Norway and Canada are experimenting with storing CO₂ deep underground. Precision agriculture is using drones and AI to reduce fertilizer and water use. Even in construction, new materials are being tested that lock away carbon instead of releasing it. These examples show that innovation does not just slow climate change -it can actively reverse some of its effects.

Think of it this way: a century ago, coal smoke was seen as the smell of progress. Today, clean energy is becoming the face of prosperity. This shift in perception is as much a cultural transformation as it is a technological one.

India’s Balancing Act

India’s position in this global story is unique. On one hand, the country remains heavily dependent on coal, which still accounts for nearly 70% of electricity generation. On the other, India has become one of the fastest-growing renewable energy markets in the world. With more than 220 GW of renewable capacity already installed and an ambitious target of 500 GW by 2030, India is showing that growth and sustainability can move in the same direction.

Projects like Rajasthan’s Bhadla Solar Park, the world’s largest, producing 2.25 GW of power, or Gujarat’s thriving wind farms, are proof that technology is no longer on the margins. India is also betting big on the future, launching the National Green Hydrogen Mission to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors like steel and cement. At the same time, the push for electric mobility is gathering pace. From two-wheelers zipping through Delhi’s streets to electric buses in Bengaluru, the transition is visible and tangible.

For everyday Indians, this transition often shows up in small but powerful ways: a farmer in Bihar who replaces a diesel pump with a solar one; a Delhi commuter who chooses an e-rickshaw over a petrol auto; or a student in Assam who studies under a solar lamp during a power cut. These stories, multiplied millions of times, are what make the big numbers real.

Beyond Coal and Into the Future

For decades, coal has been the backbone of India’s electricity supply, providing jobs and regional stability as much as power. But coal is also the country’s largest source of carbon emissions. Moving away from it is not simple, yet technology is providing practical alternatives:

Advances in battery storage now make renewable power usable even when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing.
Decentralised solar microgrids are powering villages in Bihar, Assam, and Jharkhand, often replacing diesel generators.
Cleaner fuels for households - from LPG to biogas, are cutting both carbon and toxic indoor smoke.

Each of these shifts illustrates the same truth: climate action through technology is not only about reducing emissions. It is also about improving daily life, whether by cutting electricity bills, providing reliable power in rural areas, or protecting children’s lungs from air pollution.

In villages where solar microgrids have replaced kerosene lamps, evenings no longer smell of smoke. Instead, children gather around lit classrooms, and women extend their work hours, weaving, stitching, or running small shops powered by clean energy. The promise of technology here is not just survival - it is opportunity.

What Technology Can Offer Next

The frontier of climate innovation continues to expand. For Indian cities, electric public transport and charging infrastructure will be critical in the coming decade. Other areas where technology is already reshaping sustainability include:

Smart grids powered by digital sensors and AI, making electricity use more efficient.
Waste-to-energy plants in states like Maharashtra, turning urban garbage into electricity and bio-CNG.
Satellite and drone monitoring for forests, groundwater, and extreme weather, enabling faster disaster response.
Green urban planning with rooftop gardens, vertical greening, and climate-resilient infrastructure.

In all of these cases, technology is not just about efficiency - it is about resilience. A sustainable India will be one that can withstand the shocks of a hotter, more unpredictable climate while continuing to grow.

And yet, technology is not a silver bullet. It is a set of tools and like any tools, their impact depends on how wisely we choose to use them. Innovation can light the way, but it cannot walk the path for us.

The Human Side of Innovation

Yet innovation by itself will not be enough. Technology can provide the tools, but people and policies must decide how they are used. The transition to clean energy, for example, must account for the millions of workers who depend on coal for their livelihoods. Electric vehicles will only succeed if charging stations become as common as petrol pumps. Solar panels on rooftops will only spread if financing is accessible to middle-class households.

The practical path forward lies in combining innovation with equity. India has already begun training a green workforce, a 2022 CEEW study projected India's renewable energy sector could employ around one million people by 2030. But more will be needed: public awareness campaigns, better urban planning, and community-driven projects that ensure technology reaches everyone, not just the wealthy few.

Ultimately, the story of sustainability is not about gadgets or grids - it is about people. It is about whether families can breathe easier, whether farmers can weather a drought, whether children can inherit a stable planet. That is what gives meaning to all this innovation.

Looking Ahead

Technology alone cannot save the planet, “but it can tip the balance”. The story of climate change is often told in terms of sacrifice and loss, but innovation offers a different narrative: one of possibility. India, with its scale, creativity, and urgency, has the chance to be a leader in this transformation. The world has already seen that renewables can outcompete coal, that electric vehicles can outpace petrol cars, and that smarter cities can reduce pollution.

The question is not whether technology can help, but whether we will choose to use it boldly and wisely. The future of sustainability will not be written by machines alone, but by the human choices that decide where, how, and for whom those machines are built.