How can developing countries manage to save depleting water resources and also facilitate a just energy transition when they are only offered Western solutions built for entirely different geographies and entirely different cultures?

Dr. Soumya Balasubramanya, a Senior Researcher in Environment and Development Economics at the International Water Management Institute and the World Bank, says there’s been a huge disconnect between Western technologies and the realistic needs of developing countries, as they seek to balance economic development, livelihoods and environmental sustainability, all at the same time. Dr. Balasubramanya also says there’s been a disconnect between some governments pushing sustainability and the practical needs of the farmers working the land.

But there are solutions.

Listen in as we discuss rich socio-economic topics like the purpose of the World Bank, agriculture in Jordan, trends in Israeli water management, the implementation of sustainability technology, drip irrigation, population increases, intergenerational equity, poverty, a just energy transition, regenerative agriculture, and the need for government task forces to facilitate a just transition in technology and infrastructure solutions for agriculture. And the sociocultural details really matter, because, according to Dr. Balasubramanya, there are no easy answers.

Disclaimer: Views and opinions expressed by Dr. Balasubramanya are expressly her own and do not represent the views of the World Bank.

Interview recorded on 18 October 2022.

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