Section Article

Green Innovation Strategies in Sustainable Urban Development
Author(s): Prof. Sneha Madhavan

Abstract
Green innovation strategies are increasingly becoming central to sustainable urban development especially in rapidly urbanizing countries where environmental pressures resource constraints and socio-economic inequalities are intensifying. As cities expand the need for efficient clean and resilient urban systems becomes critical to ensure long-term ecological stability and quality of life for citizens. Green innovation emerges as a multidimensional approach that integrates technological advancement policy planning resource-efficient practices renewable energy systems and sustainable infrastructure models. This paper explores how green innovation contributes to sustainable urban development by examining global and Indian contexts identifying gaps evaluating policy frameworks and understanding how cities adopt innovation-led interventions for environmental resilience. The study further highlights how innovations like green buildings smart waste management systems low-carbon mobility energy-efficient urban planning circular economy principles and nature-based solutions are transforming modern cities into sustainable ecosystems. The paper emphasizes that green innovation is not limited to technology alone but also encompasses governance models stakeholder participation community-led adaptation and sustainability-oriented decision-making frameworks. It also examines the challenges that cities face—financial limitations technological barriers inadequate planning lack of skilled professionals weak enforcement of sustainability regulations and fragmented institutional coordination. The study uses qualitative analysis supported by theoretical frameworks policy reviews and recent research to offer an integrated understanding of sustainable urban development through green innovation. Ultimately the findings show that cities can achieve long-term environmental sustainability only through strategic green innovation that connects policy people and technology into a unified developmental vision.