This blog says that every unit of human development over past decades has been matched by an equal measure of decline in our natural capital--and that we are exceeding the environmental limits of our one planet, living off the capital, rather than the interest.
From around the web
Valuation Important for Botswana's Natural Resources
WAVES offers an opportunity for Botswana to determine the physical stock of its natural resources and prepare monetary accounts; the results can be used in economic planning in order to reach sustainable development.
Forests to Cover One Quarter of China in Country's Bid to Build "Eco-civilization"
UNEP reports shed light on how countries are using different tools to shift to low-carbon, resource-efficient economies that achieve sustainable development.
Wonderful Life: Biodiversity for Sustaining People and Their Livelihoods
To mark International Biodiversity Day, World Bank Senior Environmental Specialist Adriana Moreira blogs on biodiversity’s importance to sustaining people and livelihoods.
Madagascar Has to Rely on Natural Capital for Her Future Economy
Madagascar's natural capital accounts to be used for development planning, and included in the country’s recently-adopted National Development Plan.
Key Debates Decided for IUCN World Conservation Congress 2016
The six key motions primarily identified for debate in Hawai‘i deal with protected areas, natural capital, biodiversity offsets, ocean governance, oil palm expansion and ecotourism.
How to Measure Prosperity
GDP is a bad gauge of material well-being, time for a fresh approach that accounts for parks and intangible capital, as well as the depletion of capital and damage to the environment.
African Ministers Pledge Action on Sustainable Development
Ministers of environment and representatives of over 45 African countries agreed to accelerate action on sustainable development including policies and practices to reverse ecosystem degradation and to sustainably manage natural capital.
Trees make our lives better in Unquantifiable Ways
One company is trying to measure exactly how much urban trees are worth, but some things defy calculation.
As Flood Risks Rise, Engineers, Ecologists and Economists Come Together
New comprehensive Guidelines for Measuring and Valuing the Coastal Protection Services of Mangroves and Coral Reefs make clear that Mangroves and coral reefs provide significant coastal protection benefits.