This
research explores the nexus between ecological governance and illicit labour in
Delhi’s solar energy sector, focusing on the informal e-waste hubs of Seelampur
and Mandoli. Through ethnographic studies, fieldwork, and stakeholder
interviews, the project aims to uncover how gaps in labour practices impact
sustainable development and ecological governance. A Policy Delphi method will
further evaluate strategies for regulating the informal e-waste sector.
Conceptually, the research integrates economic, social, and environmental intricacies
of the global photovoltaic (PV) industry, revealing its hidden ties to illicit
economies. Empirically, it critiques assumptions about sustainability by
highlighting labour disparities and informal practices. By bridging
environmental labour studies and economic geography, the study contributes to
understanding how labour dynamics shape environmental governance within solar
PV systems contributing to academic literature on the illicit across
disciplinary boundaries. This interdisciplinary inquiry sheds light on the
shadowed complexities of “harnessing the sun” while navigating
the intersections of labour, economy, and sustainability.
Now I need to write the research design for my phd project proposal