Smart technologies that help clean the Air and Restore our Earth

Fifty-one years ago, on April 22, 1970, millions took to the streets to commemorate the first-ever Earth Day celebration, demanding clean air and environmental protection. Since then, irrespective of where you stand on the climate change debate now, it's clear that all the technology we use every day has a massive effect on the world we live in and the world we will continue to live in in the future.

The theme for Earth Day 2021 is Restore our Earth. Thus, this year we should give this a serious thought and work towards a sustainable lifestyle by reusing, recycling, and reducing. Earth Day is an ideal time to introspect on how to contribute to environmental sustainability. It’s no surprise that technology is playing a significant role in this endeavour. There are several different new and upcoming technologies that can reduce humanity’s carbon footprint. It will also maintain the comforts and amenities we are accustomed to.

In India, we are concerned about pollution related to the extraction, refining, and distribution of fossil fuels. Petroleum refineries, frequently situated in urban areas, contaminate soil and waterways, and negatively impact the air quality in neighbouring communities. Today, air pollution is increasing in developing regions while developed countries are also striving to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. While air pollution is becoming an urgent issue, the technology that can help subside it is progressing at an even faster rate. Also, companies are working towards a pathway for cutting emissions of greenhouse gases by 2030 with the ambition to put the country on a path to net-zero emissions by 2050.

So, without further ado, here are some amazing technologies that are geared towards solving this pressing problem. This list is far from inclusive and is in no particular order.

1. Clean Tech/ Green Tech for the environment:

Green technology isn’t just about producing renewable energy but it's also about saving energy and other resources. It helps the environment by reducing resource inputs, in other words, it’s the technology behind environmental sustainability. It focuses on energy (generation, distribution, storage, efficiency) but also incorporates transportation, industry, agriculture, air, and water. Also, green technology like Ultra High-Frequency radio waves can reduce PM 2.5 microns and 10 microns by 30-40 per cent.

2. AI to measure Air pollution:

Today, technology has become an enabler to help address air pollution. It can assist in better measurement, identify its sources, develop policies, forecast, predict, and apply logic to problem-solving. It can also provide elaborate opportunities for organizations and governments to optimize their operations and reduce their impact. Thanks to Artificial Intelligence, air pollution can now be addressed more efficiently. Artificial Intelligence can be leveraged to monitor, inform, influence, measure, detect, forecast, advise, reduce, and manage air pollution in our cities.

3. Adopting Digital Technologies:

Multiple ways emerging digital technologies could reduce air pollution. Digital technologies like ride-sharing apps, autonomous vehicles, and more efficient batteries can all lower levels of ambient air pollution. For example, Ride-sharing apps permit people to carpool and decreasing the amount of gasoline used by individuals. Not only are ride-sharing apps reducing the number of discharges, but electric vehicles are also developed on the same lines that contribute to reducing conventional automobile pollution and save energy. According to a report energy-efficient cars supply about 62% of the engine power to the car wheels while conventional cars used only 17-21% of the total energy, thus making them almost three times as effective as normal cars running on fuel.

New technology may be frowned upon by some but channelized with environmental policies, such as using renewable sources for power, technologies can help reduce pollution and help restore our planet. Also, there are effective ways to contribute to the preservation of the environment using technology. Most of these can bring about substantial changes. This can be further amplified by educating the masses about being environmentally conscious. Thus, contribute to a greener planet today and for generations to come.

Dr Srikanth Sola, Director & Founder, Devic Earth>