Technology has undoubtedly helped improve human lives, but it has also caused a lot of environmental harm. However, if technology is implemented correctly, it can help positively change ecological issues.

There are many ways technology is helping the environment in India. These include using renewable energy, developing new technology, and companies taking responsibility for their environmental impact.

Companies taking responsibility

India’s economic growth has been accompanied by rapid industrial development, resulting in significant environmental degradation. Air emissions have increased, water pollution has worsened, and forest cover has decreased.

Companies in India must take responsibility for their impact on the environment. In 2013, India became the first country to mandate that all companies spend 2 percent of their net profit on corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

They are not alone in this battle. At the time of this writing, there are 401 signatories on “The Climate Pledge.”  This is a global effort and commitment of companies who agree to strive to reach net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2040. 

There are companies in virtually every industry working toward these goals. You can find the list of pledge members companies by clicking the link above. Here are a few examples of some of their efforts:

●       Hotel services

○       They are cutting emissions by using ground-source heat pumps.

○       They use locally produced furniture restored or created from sustainable sources.

●       Offshore companies

○       Cutting emissions by letting consumers watch sports, participate in various games, and check official international lottery numbers using their smartphone app or computer.

●       Technology services

○       They utilize specialized technology ledgers to allow global companies to reach their net-zero goal with advanced blockchain technology.

There are many companies working hard to do their part in cleaning up the planet. Go to the climate pledge link above for their incredible stories.

Photo credit: Markus Winkler

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is being used to help with a wide variety of environmental issues. This includes energy emission reductions, CO2 removal, helping develop greener transportation networks, and monitoring deforestation.

For example, Thales’s PureFlyt flight management system uses AI to optimize aircraft trajectories and thus reduce fuel consumption and emissions by 10%. Xcel Energy, a coal-burning utility, also uses AI to increase efficiency by predicting and adapting its operating systems, boosting productivity (20%).

While AI can help us tackle some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges, there are a few issues to consider. First, training and executing AI systems require massive amounts of data that can produce significant carbon emissions.

Using technology to reduce air pollution

While a lot of attention has been focused on air pollution and how it affects human health, there are also other ways that technology is helping to reduce the issue. One way is through repurposing waste products.

For instance, a company called IKEA has teamed up with the government to use waste materials left over from building projects to create new products and help reduce air pollution. Another way is through cloud seeding, a practice that uses salts to disperse them into the air, bringing down the level of particulates in the sky.

As a result, a growing amount of work is being done to find ways to reduce the impact of air pollution on people and the environment. This is not only important for our health, but it also helps slow climate change.