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(GIST OF KURUKSHETRA) Green Technologies Current Status, Challenges and Way Ahead

(MAY-2024)

Green Technologies Current Status, Challenges and Way Ahead

Introduction:

Green technologies broadly encompass innovations focused on environmental enhancement and resource efficiency. They range from renewable energy solutions like solar and wind power to advanced waste management solutions and eco-friendly materials.

About:

These technologies are crucial in addressing global environmental challenges such as climate change and resource scarcity, marking a significant shift from traditional practices to sustainable alternatives.
They offer new opportunities for growth and development, challenging conventional business models and promoting sustainable business operations. This shift is evident in the rise of green startups and investments in sustainable innovations.
Renewable energy technologies for energy production, such as solar and wind power, are at the forefront, offering alternatives to fossil fuels. Energy efficiency technologies, focusing on reducing energy consumption in buildings and industries, are also critical.
Green transportation technologies, including electric vehicles and sustainable public transit systems, are gaining momentum. Furthermore, waste management technologies are revolutionising the way we handle waste, turning it into sustainable resources or energy.
Lastly, sustainable materials are replacing traditional, non-renewable materials in the construction industry. These varied types of technologies underscore the comprehensive scope they can have in addressing environmental challenges. Thus, it is like giving Mother Nature a high-tech helping hand. Here are the unresistible goals of Green Technologies, summarised as under: -

Reduce the rate of increase in energy demand thus promoting economic growth
To promote the development of the green technology sector and its contribution to the national economy
To increase the potential for competition in the production of green technology and to improve the sector's performance in the field
To ensure long-term sustainability for posterity
In addition, to raise public consciousness about green technologies as well as to promote their wider use
While discussing the current promotion and coverage of green technologies, we find their footprints in various sectors such as

Energy Sector: Green Technology in electricity generation and energy resource management, including cogeneration in the manufacturing and commercial sectors.
Building Sector: Green technology is being used in the design, administration, repair, and demolition of houses.
Water and Waste Management Sector: Green technology usage in water supply control and usage, wastewater disposal, and solid waste landfills.
Transport Sector: Green technology integration into transportation infrastructure and automobiles, including bio-fuels and public transportation.

Steps need to be taken to address environmental issues:

It is the best way to address environmental issues while still promoting economic development. It also aligns with the global agenda of governments currently prioritising environmental betterment, including the phenomena of climate change.
The greatest advantage of using green technologies is that it improves people's quality of living by making the climate more sustainable. If air, water, and noise pollution continues, it would have a very bad effect on the quality of life. The negative effect on the climate is minimised as we use green technologies.
Green technology has a lot of promise for propelling the nation forward. Industries that use or produce goods based on green technologies may help the local population find work.
Waste management technologies are also undergoing transformation. Innovations in recycling and waste-to-energy processes are enabling more sustainable management of resources. These technologies have the potential to reduce landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
Moreover, green architecture is gaining momentum, with sustainable buildings designed for energy efficiency and minimal environmental impact. These structures utilise sustainable materials and incorporate features like green roofs and energy-efficient lighting, contributing considerably to urban sustainability and lowering temperatures in adjacent areas.

Way Forward

The future of green technology is not just about new gadgets and solutions; it is more about a shift in mindset towards a more sustainable way of living. India's continually evolving policies and reforms focused on ease of doing business and attaining nationally determined contributions are clearing a path for faster adoption of green technologies and for facilitating investors across the globe. India's '
Aspirational District Programme' is the best initiative to channel such a transformation by leveraging local communities, as it removes heterogeneities in regional variations in development.
The programme, with its increased scope in energy transitions, will power India's ambitions as a world leader in green energy and achieve Agenda 2030.
It serves as a lighthouse not just for our green energy revolution but also provides a model that is replicable across the world. To conclude, we must remember the words of Bob Brown, the Senator of Australian Greens: "The future will either be green or not at all"