BES Facebook groupPRESS RELEASE: Natural Capital Initiative
The best things in life might not always be free
29 April 2009
On Wednesday, 29 April 2009, leaders from the public, private and non-governmental organisation (NGO) sectors will come together in London with prominent academics to highlight a new approach to managing the environment to sustain a growing global population under a changing climate.
The Valuing our Life Support Systems Symposium is the first event of the Natural Capital Initiative, organised by the Institute of Biology, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) and British Ecological Society.
Speaking at the Symposium will be senior representatives from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), British Gas, Natural England, Tesco, National Farmers Union, Water UK, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Economic and Social Research Council and Eurostar.
Professor Rosie Hails from CEH chairs the Natural Capital Initiative. She said: "Our current economic problems are incomparable to the crisis being caused by dwindling environmental services to humankind as a result of global population growth and climate change. We need to develop a new approach which explicitly values, considers and manages the trade-offs involved in any decision which affects the environment.
This Symposium will generate support for Defra's implementation of the ecosystem approach, which will help protect and enhance our natural capital. The event specifically aims to identify gaps in science, policy and implementation measures that are preventing the approach from being applied. The ecosystem approach was recommended by The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Report, which found that over the last 50 years we have changed Earth's ecosystems so significantly and rapidly that they may not be able to support human life in the future.
Professor John Beddington, HM Government Chief Scientific Adviser, who is speaking at the event, said: "It is becoming clearer that the challenges we face in provisioning safe, clean and affordable energy, water and food to our growing global population are intimately linked. Any effective strategy for solving these challenges will need to recognise the importance of maintaining our rich ecosystems. Scientists must clarify their understanding of the benefits that well-functioning ecosystems provide 'behind the scenes', for example in sequestering our carbon, purifying our water and pollinating our crops, and draw these to the attention of policy-makers."
Supporting quotes from more symposium speakers:
Professor Lord May of Oxford said: "Our massive and unintended experiment on the planet's reaction to unsustainable levels of human impacts is approaching crisis point. Ironically Earth's response is already damaging the human life support systems it provides. The future is not yet beyond rescue, provided we take appropriate action with due urgency."
The Rt Hon Elliot Morley MP, Chair, Energy and Climate Change Select Committee, said: "Healthy and thriving ecosystems are as essential to human well-being as they are for the ecologies they support. Climate change brings the risk of dangerous changes and extinctions which would be disastrous for the planet and irresponsible for us not to use all our efforts to avert."
Gearoid Lane, Director, British Gas New Energy, Centrica UK, said: "Finding a balance between securing our economy and protecting our ecosystems is essential for our future well-being. Key to this is how we produce, consume and conserve energy. In sustainably meeting our energy needs, the challenge lies in the consideration of many factors; carbon emissions, air quality, habitat preservation, water abstraction, waste products and amenity value."
Professor Bob Watson, Chief Scientific Adviser, Defra, said: "Natural capital, along with built, human and social capital, is an important component of the wealth of a nation. Ecosystem services are essential to human well-being and sustainable development. The value of ecosystem services in both monetary and non-monetary terms must be recognised in decision-making."
Kate Groves
Public Relations Manager
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
E: groves@ceh.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1491 692358
M: +44 (0)7920727653
Barnaby Smith
Press Officer
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
E: cehpress@ceh.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1491 692439
M: +44 (0)7920295384
About the Natural Capital Initiative
The organising partners of the Natural Capital Initiative are the Institute of Biology, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (part of the Natural Environment Research Council) and the British Ecological Society.
The Natural Capital Initiative is:
- Informing the Government's implementation of the ecosystem approach - a framework for looking at whole ecosystems in decision making and valuing the services they provide.
- Identifying gaps in science, policy and implementation measures that inhibit an ecosystem approach.
- Working with Government, Parliament, Agencies, NGOs, the private sector, scientific bodies and the wider public.
www.naturalcapitalinitiative.org.uk
The Institute of Biology is the professional body for UK biologists. It was founded in 1950, obtained a Royal Charter in 1979, and is a registered charity. Our 12,000 members work in industry, research, education and healthcare, amongst other areas.
www.iob.org
The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) is the UK's Centre of Excellence for integrated research in land and freshwater ecosystems and their interaction with the atmosphere. CEH is part of the Natural Environment Research Council and employs over 450 people at five major sites in England, Scotland and Wales with an overall budget of about £35m. CEH tackles complex environmental challenges to deliver practicable solutions so that future generations can benefit from a rich and healthy environment.
www.ceh.ac.uk
The British Ecological Society is a learned society and a registered charity. Established in 1913 by academics to promote and foster the study of ecology in its widest sense. The Society currently has around 4,000 members spread around the world. The core activities are the publication of results of research in ecology, the development of scientific meetings and the promotion of ecological awareness through the education at all levels.
www.britishecologicalsociety.org
We are grateful to the sponsors of the Valuing our Life Support Systems Symposium:
British Gas, Centrica UK
Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra)
Natural Environment Research Council
Foresight, Government Office of Science
Natural England
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Economic and Social Research Council
The Science Council
Lawes Trust, /Rothamsted Research
Biosciences Federation
Youngs Brewery
