Attempts to put a dollar value on the natural world – so-called “natural capital” or “ecosystem services” – have produced some frankly staggering numbers. A seminal 1997 paper valued the world’s ecosystem services at US$33 trillion a year. This estimate was controversial, given that it dwarfed the entire global market economy, which at the time stood at roughly US$18 trillion a … [Read more...] about If Dollars Rule the World, Why Don’t the Bees Get a Bailout?
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The Beef and Me
I remember back in the 80’s reading about an environmental assessment by a respected institution, the Union of Concerned Scientists. These were the early days of life-cycle analyses, and these Concerned Scientists were seeking the answer to the following question: Which behavior of the average US family had the most devastating environmental impacts, taking into account their … [Read more...] about The Beef and Me
Moving Forward the Natural Capital Agenda
A few weeks ago, I represented the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (BIO) Program at the first Natural Capital Summit in Stockholm. While the meeting’s attendants were few, they were strategically selected and the event is likely to have a significant impact on the future agenda of a community working to incorporate natural capital into development decisions. I can already … [Read more...] about Moving Forward the Natural Capital Agenda
Without Natural Resources, There Is No Viable Infrastructure
The Panama Canal is without a doubt an iconic example of a mega-infrastructure project in our Region. It represents 5% of the world's cargo traffic, 5% of world trade, and 25% of Panama's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Impressive. If we pay attention to the different news, academic papers, research reports or editorials that are written about the Canal, we find a trove of … [Read more...] about Without Natural Resources, There Is No Viable Infrastructure
5 innovative sustainable energy gadgets to celebrate World Environment Day
I think many of us question how we can be more mindful of energy use in our day to day lives, and these fun and sustainable gadgets give you the opportunity to test out a few ways on World Environment Day. [dropcap type="circle" color="#fc4f00" background="#ffffff"]1[/dropcap] For those of you who are coffee addicts, this coffee mug charger can provide you with hours of texting … [Read more...] about 5 innovative sustainable energy gadgets to celebrate World Environment Day