There exists a theory among economists called the ‘pollution haven hypothesis’ that talks about how foreign investments are related to environmental regulations. It states that companies from developed countries often seek to set up manufacturing units in developing countries not only because they can obtain cheap labour and resources, but also because environmental regulations in these countries are usually lenient, reducing the cost of compliance. But does empirical data support this hypothesis?
A new study from arid Bikaner in Rajasthan has demonstrated a novel, farm-level strategy to tackle the interconnected crises of water scarcity, energy demand, and climate change. It demonstrates that simple changes to crop choice and soil management can dramatically improve the sustainability of farming systems.