In this blog, University of Oxford Professor, and Chair of the UK's Natural Capital Committee Dieter Helm, says natural capital is every bit as important to economic growth as manufactured capital. Good quality water, soils, biodiversity and clean air are necessary to thrive. But these things are typically ignored in mainstream economics. Without them, growth cannot be sustained, and therefore it won’t be.

The prevailing water shortage in Botswana is aggravated by increasing pollution risks to water resources due to poor sanitation. Officiating at the fifth Water Pitso this week, the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Mr Kitso Mokaila, said groundwater resources were being depleted unless sustainable interventions could be undertaken. 
He said there was need for all stakeholders to re-strategize and find more innovative solutions to tackle the challenges.

This year, the Government of Indonesia shows more explicitly its commitment to embarking on quality economic growth, reducing disparities in income levels, and improving the nation’s quality of human resources. This commitment is reflected in the inclusion of four development targets in the state budget: reduced poverty, unemployment, and income inequality. The last target is the Human Development Index of 69.4.

Economic policy must be combined with climate and technology if we are to stand any chance of saving ourselves, argues the prominent American economist in the Guardian.