Does Poverty Rise as Biodiversity Falls? - Pavan Sukhdev

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2010/08/03/Pavan_Sukhdev_What_Is_the_World_Worth

Poverty or environmental degradation: which should society address first? According to economist Pavan Sukhdev, the issue is not that simple. He explains that declining biodiversity (frequently a result of industrial development) has a disproportionately large impact on the poor.

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Environmental damage is already costing us trillions a year, according to Pavan Sukhdev, head of the UN Green Economy Initiative. Sukhdev applies numbers to things that nature does for free -- like purifying drinking water, supplying food and fuel, protecting coasts from storms, and generally keeping humans alive and healthy.

The cost of the global financial crisis stunned the world, with an estimated $862 billion in direct government bailouts alone. After years of running down our natural capital, are we getting close to an environmental version of the credit crunch?

Climate change has been grabbing most of the headlines in recent years, but we are now up against many environmental limits at once. Sukhdev looks at what this tells us about the limitations of our economic system and how it needs to change. The pioneering economist (who also works for Deutsche Bank) describes what the global economy would look like with nature on the balance sheet.

His talk was presented by the Centre for Policy Development at the Sydney Opera House. Afterwards, he joined a panel consisting of leading business people, climate change advocates and scientists. - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Pavan Sukhdev is Special Advisor and Head of UNEP's Green Economy Initiative, a major project suite to demonstrate that the greening of economies is not a burden on growth but rather a new engine for growth, employment and the reduction of persistent poverty.

Sukhdev is also Study Leader for the G8+5 commissioned report on The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), a project he was appointed to lead in March 2008 by the EU Commission and Germany whilst still working full-time at Deutsche Bank. TEEB's Interim Report was welcomed globally for its fresh economic outlook, showing the economic significance of the loss of nature's services, and connecting biodiversity and ecosystems with ethics, equity and the alleviation of poverty.

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[Phelan666]

Of course the lack of resources causes a decline in populations/health. Darwin/Wallace described this over 200 years ago. It's nothing new.

Yes, human beings are affected by the same forces that the rest of the natural world is. Sorry if I burst anyone's bible bubble.

[truvelocity]

Of course. Hoover dam, no salmon for the natives. They lived off of nature for free and progress takes it away from them.

[blo0magic]

How can you imagine how large the Earth is? The answer is you can't imagine the size unless you go out there in space and see it.. The biggest thing you ever saw was probably a large mountain. Same goes for the whole environment issue.. People are never gonna get the idea unless they are shown an ultimate figure that will convince them..

[SgtThom]

@newfish09

Overpopulation, need for power, why of life for 1st world countries consume more and more energy. This is nothing surprising seeing how the Human race has been going in the last 200 years or so.

[newfish09]

so people are messing the earth up.. why?

[blackiron60]

In a deeply unequal society, what is called "progress" is often simply a case of the rich doing what is good for the rich while claiming that it is somehow good for everyone - when in fact it is more likely to destroy the livelihoods of millions.

[Cl1mateAware]

We need a new belief system combining humanism and environmental concern. William Tarkovsky’s eco-philosophy is precisely this. Find him on youtube and at thebookofnewcreation[dot]co[do­t]uk.

[Redfingers]

An economist with a Macintosh. What the fuck?

[Timschannel003]

its odd that this even needs to be said. I thought this sort of thing was common since and widely believed by everyone.

[MarmaladeINFP]

@Phelan666 Sadly, this obvious fact has been intentionally ignored and dismissed by most people, including those who should know better. Propaganda, reality tunnels, and self-deception are very powerful forces. We don't see what we don't want to see, even when a moment of common sense would allow us to see clearly the facts of reality.

[MarmaladeINFP]

@airbreather123 The environment isn't just a utility we enjoy. It's the very basis of all life. Without a healthy environment, we'd all be dead. Scientists already admit we've irreversibly altered the environment. In North America, for example, bats and bees are dying. These are some of the most basic species that are necessary for a healthy ecosystem. If bees die out, most of our agriculture will collapse. Pollution is causing global warming & raising of oceans that will flood coastal cities.