Leveraging FinTech and GreenTech for long-term sustainability in South Asia: Strategic pathways toward Agenda 2050

Abstract

As the global community moves beyond the 2030 horizon, long-term sustainability goals such as climate neutrality, digital equity, and resilient infrastructure are determining the emerging Agenda 2050—a forward-looking framework for deep sustainability transitions. This study explores how the synergistic integration of Financial Technology (FinTech) and Green Technology (GreenTech) can be used as transformative enablers of sustainable development across South Asia over the coming decades. Utilizing a qualitative thematic analysis of secondary data drawn from peer-reviewed literature, institutional reports, and country case evidence, the research identifies scalable FinTech solutions—including blockchain, digital wallets, RegTech, and green insurance—and complementary GreenTech applications such as solar energy systems, hydropower, green architecture, and sustainable mobility. The analysis highlights how FinTech can catalyze GreenTech diffusion by improving financial access, mobilizing green investments, and enabling real-time sustainability tracking. By assessing current technological trends and institutional readiness across Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, the study provides strategic insights into building integrated digital-environmental ecosystems for Agenda 2050. Key innovations of this study include the application of a dual theoretical framework, Technology Organization Environment (TOE) and Sociotechnical Systems Theory, to analyze FinTech–GreenTech synergies, and a forward-oriented policy roadmap for long-term sustainability in low- and middle-income countries The findings are particularly relevant for policymakers, central banks, private innovators, and development agencies seeking to operationalize long-term sustainability through cross-sectoral technology pathways.