TECH FOR SUSTAINABILITY

From real-time emissions monitoring to AI-driven resource analytics, technology is shifting the sustainability agenda

- VASUDHA SARAOGI

SUSTAINABILITY IN INDIA can no longer be treated as a cyclical discussion tied to annual reports and regulatory deadlines. Sustainability must become a continuous, intelligence-driven discipline.

For India, where economic advancement intersects with urgent decarbonisation imperatives, this evolution is increasingly enabled by one transformative force: technology.

India is emerging as a crucible of tech-enabled sustainability. From real-time emissions monitoring to AI-driven resource analytics, technology is shifting the sustainability agenda.

Technology is enabling a shift. Remote sensing, IoT sensors, and AI analytics now power real-time Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems, flagging emissions, water, and air quality anomalies for timely response. Yet fewer than 10% of industrial units operate continuous monitoring. The imperative is clear—scaling these systems isn't just a technical upgrade, it's a national resilience strategy.

FROM OBSERVATION TO PREDICTION

One of the most valuable contributions of technology to sustainability is its capacity to unify granular operational data with planetary-scale environmental intelligence.

At the micro level, digital infrastructure enables organisations and farmers to optimise electricity, water, and materials in real time. The results are evident.