We are damaging and over-consuming the planet’s natural capital, on which we all depend for our prosperity and, indeed, survival. Even with over a billion people with no access to drinkable water and living on less than a dollar a day, we are consuming fifty per cent more of the planet’s natural resources than it can renew every year. And, remarkably, we are depleting and destroying this wonderful asset with little idea of the economic consequences. This is, in no small part, due to the economic invisibility of nature and the fact that the value of the planet’s ecosystems and biodiversity has not been taken into account, fully and consistently, in our economic, accounting and decision-making systems.
It is important to remember that the ultimate source of all economic capital is natural capital and the world economy is a subsidiary of nature, not the other way round.
The images hope to inspire organisations and show the opportunities that can be secured if the mechanisms needed to value nature’s ecosystems and biodiversity are developed. These valuation mechanisms are vital if we are to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Below you can click on the images for a larger scale copy for reading. There are more images available on our website. Please contact us if you would like us to consider loaning these images for display at an event or conference.
Our ‘Economic Invisibility of Nature’ video features speakers and attendees from our A4S forum speaking about the importance of measuring what matters and starting to take action for sustainability, featuring:
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales;
Jeremy Grantham, Director, The Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment and Co-Founder GMO;
Jochen Zeitz, CEO Sport and Lifestyle Group, CSO of PPR and Chairman of the Board of PUMA;
David McCandless, Author, Designer and Creative Director, Information is Beautiful;
Judith Batchelar, Director of Sainsbury’s Brand;
Kevin O'Byrne, Group Finance Director, Kingfisher;
Sir Robert Worcester, Founder of MORI; and
John Calvelli, Executive Vice President - Public Affairs, Wildlife Conservation Society.
