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https://theconversation.com/were-still-not-measuring-our-reliance-on-nature-as-we-rush-to-boost-productivity-263716>
"Human economies are made possible through natural capital – stocks of land,
fresh water, oceans, biodiversity and soils, among others. Farming isn’t
possible without soil or water. Manufacturing isn’t possible without raw
materials to convert into products. Service industries aren’t possible without
reliable food.
This may seem like stating the obvious. But what’s obvious isn’t always acted
upon. At last week’s high-profile Economic Reform Roundtable, natural capital
was conspicuously absent. At the table were bankers, unionists, housing experts
and business groups – but only one environmental advocate, former treasury
secretary Ken Henry.
The government’s goals were to make the economy more productive and resilient
and the budget more sustainable. The health of our natural capital underpins
all of these.
This missed opportunity is symptomatic of a wider challenge. The very real
risks we face if natural capital degrades are mostly ignored, virtually
unmonitored and not part of mainstream economic discussions. Small wonder
environment groups launched their own alternative roundtable to make the
economic case for nature.
In the mid-20th century, economists and policymakers commonly assumed nature
had no limits. By the end of the century, it was abundantly clear this wasn’t
true. In the 21st century, this view is patently absurd. Nature has hard
limits. Water can be used up. Fisheries can be fished out. Pollinators can die
out. The environment and the economy are not separate – one enables the other."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
