INTRODUCTION 

Population growth and expanding industrial activities have driven a significant rise in natural resource consumption and electricity demand. The extraction of these resources and the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity lead to environmental issues such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, pollution, resource depletion, and global warming. Hence,  there is a need to plan, organize, and control human activities to manage our resources for our efficient use and the use of future generations. 

Sustainable development encompasses social, environmental, and economic aspects. One of the many strategies that can achieve all aspects is the implementation of green technology. In Nigeria, The  Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), is responsible for strategic planning and coordination of national policies in the energy sector. ECN has developed the Renewable Energy Masterplan (REMP) to promote an increase in the supply of renewable electricity from 13% of total electricity generation in 2015 to 23% in 2025 and 36% by 2030 [4]. Also, the Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA) is promoting sustainable agricultural practices through training, outreach programs, and research in areas such as molecular biology, plant tissue culture, geographic information system (GIS) & remote sensing, soil & plant analysis, and food analyses. [1] 

WHAT IS GREEN TECHNOLOGY? 

Green technology is the use of innovative and sustainable solutions to mitigate human impact on the environment while also conserving natural resources.  It has gained global adoption across diverse sectors such as agriculture, renewable energy, waste management, water treatment, sustainable construction (green building), and pollution control. 

Advantages of Green Technology on the Scope of Sustainable Development

Environmental Impact: Green technologies mitigate environmental issues, such as pollution, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion.  Renewable energy, for example, displaces fossil fuel dependency, which minimizes hydrocarbon contamination of aquifer systems and particulate emissions. Circular economy practices, such as material recycling and upcycling, reduce waste generation and extend product lifecycles. 

Social Impact: Green technologies provide social amenities, such as healthcare, education, and accessible clean water. Solar-powered water purification systems in remote areas provide portable water and eradicate waterborne diseases. Sustainable agro-techniques (e.g., integrated pest management, precision agriculture) minimize agrochemical runoff, preserving soil health and bolstering food security through resilient crop yields.

Economic Impact: Green technology drives cost-efficient innovation and labour market expansion. Waste recycling industries reduce raw material procurement costs while generating employment across the collection, sorting, and processing sectors. Renewable energy infrastructure development stimulates high-skilled job creation in engineering, manufacturing, and maintenance, fostering inclusive economic growth. 

Green technology has the potential to make significant contributions to achieving sustainable development by addressing environmental issues, improving social well-being, and fostering economic growth. [9]

GLOBAL INITIATIVES OF GREEN TECHNOLOGY

Denmark implemented green technology through wind power renewable energy source. Thus, becoming the country with the highest share of wind power in the world by generating 47% of its electricity from wind power in 2019 [6] and with a target of reaching 60% by 2030 [5]. This has enabled the country’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) to be reduced to 41.7% in 2020 from its initial 71.1% in 1990. [3]
India, a developing country, has also implemented green technology as a tool for its Railways. Indian Railways is the national railroad carrier that transports more than 16 million passengers and 1.5 million tonnes of freight daily, with 1.34 million employees. It consumes almost 2% of India’s total electricity consumption. Employees of Indian Railways reside in housing colonies that utilize energy-inefficient incandescent lamps (ICLs) for their lighting needs, thus increasing peak electricity demand in the evening. Hence, a multidisciplinary project team was given the task of looking for solutions that would reduce peak electricity demand in housing colonies through the adoption of green technology by its employees. The biggest challenge for the project team was to figure out the financing mechanism, to kick-start the project. Various options that were put forth during brainstorming sessions include;

1. subsidy by the government, 
2. initial free supply of the product but with monthly installment payback, 
3. subsidy reduction for electrical consumption (to make the green technology more attractive),
4. subsidy for manufacturers (to reduce the cost of producing green technologyproducts)

But they were rejected by the government.  The project team found a workable solution and successfully implemented it to provide green lighting solutions in approximately 400,000 households of Indian Railways. The Indian government launched schemes like the UJALA (Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs) scheme to promote the replacement of ICLs with energy-efficient LED bulbs. This project resulted in a significant reduction of peak lighting load without compromising on the lumen output and, thus, contributed towards sustainable development. [10]

Some case studies of ongoing green technology projects include;

1. Singapore’s Green Building Initiative – It is part of the Singapore Green Plan 2030, the nation’s collective effort to advance the agenda on sustainable development. It aims to deliver these three key targets of “80-80-80 in 2030”
   
   1. greening 80% of Singapore’s buildings,
   2. 80% of new developments to be super low energy,
   3. 80% improvement in energy efficiency. [13]
2. In the case of Uganda, a developing country, joining the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) initiative with its goals being;

1. More than 98% of the population has electricity access from mainly solar PV but also from hydropower., geothermal, wind power and biomass,
2. More than 99% of the population has access to modern cooking solutions, through the use of highly efficient cook stoves,  electric cooking, biogas and so on.
3. Yearly improvement in energy intensity by 3.5% and 
4. Renewable share in final energy consumption for power to at least 90%.[12]