I believe this is not just a technological question: it's also an economic and political question. Without the conciousness of entrepreneurs and politicians; without the act of governments, sustainable development cannot be realized by techniques.
I think that is not a defined form to make it yet. I know some solutions for sustainable development, all of them for different usages and developed in a number of different ways... A number enough to not make possible to get a conclusion or to get a trend on it.
As Lian Cheng Wang mentioned the question has many levels to it. Moreover, which specific technology is in question? Because each technology reacts differently in the environment that is being implemented. Maybe narrow down your question for further assistance to be provided.