Green Technology And Environmental Sustainability

1.0                                                       INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background Information to the Study

Economic development is strongly connected to energy development. Fossil fuels currently supply most of the world’s commercial energy, but their emissions contribute to significant global environmental issues. There are concerns that continuing energy production and consumption from existing sources may be unsustainable and challenging to maintain. To address this, it’s essential to improve energy efficiency to slow down energy demand growth, while also increasing the share of clean energy sources to minimize the negative environmental effects of energy use (Shafiei & Abadi, 2017).

Climate change continues to be a significant issue, particularly in the twenty-first century, recognized as a major disaster. One of the primary drivers of carbon dioxide emissions is the excessive use of non-renewable energy. Furthermore, climate change threatens human energy, food, and ecological security, presenting a serious challenge to survival (Modupe & Dervis, 2023). Many studies have emphasized that continuous energy consumption is harmful to the environment. To address these environmental challenges and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the adoption of cleaner and more advanced technologies is crucial in both developed and developing countries.

The environment provides the primary source of livelihood for over 50% of the economically active population in Africa and other developing regions, as many rely on agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing, hunting, foraging, and forestry. The challenge of sustaining these livelihoods while preserving the environment underscores the importance of the seventh goal target of the Millennium Development Goals, which is to “ensure environmental sustainability” (Todaro & Smith, 2015).

Green technology is regarded as a key aspect of innovative green supply and value chain processes. Its development aims to promote sustainable performance without altering traditional technological practices. Environmental, eco-technology, and green technology approaches focus on bridging the gap between conventional methods and ecological sustainability. The growing focus on the environment, combined with technology management, has gradually evolved into green technology. At its core, green technology is rooted in sustainability (Das, Mishra & Bisoyi, 2018). The green approach to production and utilization emphasizes enjoying current standards of living without compromising future generations’ quality of life.

Green technology has become essential and is urgently needed. It involves manufacturing products with minimal environmental impact. This concept has gained significant importance in India and other developing countries, seen as a critical strategy for promoting sustainable development. As a result, manufacturers are increasingly adopting eco-friendly practices, producing environmentally-conscious products that could enhance their market share and boost the company’s green image in society (Das, et al., 2018).

Green growth is a policy framework that integrates environmental and economic goals. Its objective is to drive economic growth by increasing income and investment, thereby reducing poverty through the creation of green, clean jobs and improving citizens’ well-being. It also involves developing management policies to regulate activities within the environment. According to Fay (2012), green growth is a crucial strategy for guiding developing countries toward sustainable development by alleviating poverty and raising public awareness about environmental issues. The benefits of adopting green growth can be fully realized by fostering innovation in African countries and overcoming obstacles to the effective spread of green growth products and technologies (Ibitoye, Bamidele, Hlalefang & Pierre, 2017).