The World's Resources Aren't Running Out - states Matt Ridley

The World's Resources Aren't Running Out
Ecologists worry that the world's resources come in fixed amounts that will run out, but we have broken through such limits again and again - The contributor of this article, Matt Ridley, is the author of "The Rational Optimist" and a member of the British House of Lords.

Mr. Ridley's final question is:
How can innovation improve the environment?

Full article:
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304279904579517862612287156

I would also like to pose this question here group-specific. Can water-related innovations improve the environment, and if so, how? What are examples?