For years the 'market mantra' has been to save forests by selling the carbon they embody, writes Chris Lang, harnessing the profit motive for the benefit of trees and climate. But it never worked, and now even former fans are admitting that REDD is just another failed conservation fad. So what next? How about asking local communities to manage their forests as commons?
… as commons? A new paper in Conservation Biology starts with the following sentence: … builds on a 2013 editorial in Conservation Biology that identifies REDD as a conservation …
The 'Global Redesign Initiative', a project of the World Economic Forum, aims to replace UN-based intergovernmental decision-making with unaccountable 'multi-stakeholder governance' run by and for corporations, writes Margi Prideaux. What future for nature and people in this brave new world? Generate profits for investors, or face extinction or exclusion to the margins of existence.
Privatizing nature, outsourcing governance: the economics of extinction Margi Prideaux | 7th November 2016 Comment Economics Natural World Conservation Politics once-rainforest-cut.jpg The 'Global …
Faced with a planetary emergency, is deep ecological transformation, a ‘megamorphosis’ of modern society, still a possibility?
… focused on the interaction between planetary biology, chemistry and geology. He says: “The … Capra emphasises that we need to refocus from biology and the study of single organisms to …
Economist Ann Pettifor predicted the 2008 economic crash. And predicted a 'shuddering shock' just ahead of the coronavirus pandemic. Find out what she sees coming next...
Pettifor's case for a Green New Deal Brendan Montague | 26th October 2021 | News Climate Breakdown Coronavirus Economics COP26 Festival Of Wellbeing Green New Deal 43113281900_4c1d715b68_k.jpg …
Just as Sir Nicholas Stern’s report in October 2006 put a price on the effects of climate change, a new report by the UN has begun to cost out the threat of failing to conserve the world’s biodiversity – a cool £40 billion annually, and rising.
UN report assesses the worth of the natural world 1st July 2008 News Natural World Un Audit Economics Economics Species Extinction Conservation Natural World Society News web pic 2_260.jpg Just as …
Covid-19 exposes the inherent fragility of our globally interconnected economic systems and the inequalities that they perpetuate.
Is nature taking revenge? Herbert Girardet | 15th April 2020 News Coronavirus Covid-19 Nature Economics Growth screenshot_2020-03-24_at_14.07.02.png Covid-19 exposes the inherent fragility of our …
A second canal joining the Pacific and Atlantic oceans is planned for Nicaragua, writes Nathan Wood. But the gigantic project is raising growing fears due to a grossly unfair contract, glaring failures of process, close links to the Chinese government, and its enormous - but uncosted - ecological impacts.
The Nicaragua Canal - a disaster in waiting? Nathan Wood | 15th August 2014 News Nicaragua China Transport Water Forests Economics lake-nicaragua-cut.jpg A second canal joining the Pacific and …
Economics claims to be a science - yet it fails to engage with the world's only real economic actors - people, not theorems. It's time to rethink economics, write David Boyle and Andrew Simms, and ask the revolutionary question: 'What if ... ?'
… for example psychology, geology and biology. And it needs to be challengeable from …
Farming today is well on the way to becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of the agro-chemical-biotech industry, writes Colin Tudge. Defra and the European Commission are all too keen to make it so, reflecting the interests of an agro-oligarchy obsessed with profits and growth at all costs. But there is an alternative. Join the 'real farming' agrarian renaissance ...
Farming for profit? Or for people, nature, health, wellbeing and human survival? Colin Tudge | 19th November 2014 Activism UK Farming Natural World Toxics Economics brussells-sprouts-cut.jpg Farming …
James Lovelock will be for ever known for his Gaia theory - a huge contribution to how we as humans understand and relate to the biosphere.
The loss of Lovelock Herbert Girardet | 2nd August 2022 | Comment Earth System Science General Systems Theory Biosphere Gaia Economics Editor’s Picks james_lovelock_in_2005.jpg James Lovelock will be …
Nuclear power exists for one reason only, writes Ralph Nader - government support. Without the taxpayer subsidies, accident liability waivers and exploited consumers, nuclear power wouldn't exist. And even with all the above, it can barely hold on. It's time to end the nuclear boondoggle for once and for all.
Nuclear power - insanity at taxpayers' and consumers' expense Ralph Nader | 12th September 2014 Comment Nuclear Power Energy Health Economics USA san-onofre-beach-cut.jpg Nuclear power exists for one …
We must beware an 'environmental' agenda that excludes the human dimension, Pope Francis writes in his recent Encyclical: the poor are least to blame for the ecological and climate crises, yet they are its primary victims. Humanity must make enduring decisions about the world we and our children will share.
Social and environmental justice: the struggle is one! Pope Francis | 28th June 2015 Comment Religion Economics Cliamte Chantge Pollution Forests pope-francis-cut.jpg We must beware an …
Now is the time to be bold, and to envisage a holistic, green recovery linking human wellbeing with the health of ecosystems.
Reframing economics Herbert Girardet | 27th April 2021 | Comment Economics Editor’s Picks Resurgence & Ecologist Club Of Rome Jackson Bigasaki, caretaker at the permaculture demonstration garden in …
Can we initiate a global green recovery, embedding economics within sound ecological parameters?
A manifesto for the Coronacene Herbert Girardet | 21st May 2020 News Covid-19 Coronavirus Economics Thought Leaders Regenerative Farming Circular Economy Cities screenshot_2020-05-20_at_15.20.14.png …
The threat posed to nature and society by the massive expansion of industrial, fossil fuel economies was discussed by a generation of authors 60 years ago. What can they teach us today?
… degradation across the world. Commoner was a biology professor, but also a would-be …
Teaching children about nature, and about how our economies meet our needs and impact on nature, is now essential.
The wasp lesson Matt Carmichael | 18th January 2022 | Comment Education Economics Resurgence Trust EF Schumacher Schumacher College Editor’s Picks 27478315442_fbaf47ee88_o.jpg Teaching children about …
Talis Kalnars was a pioneer of 'continuous cover' forestry in Britain, writes Phil Morgan. His woodlands were not only beautiful but profitable, as he nurtured the 'natural capital' of the forest ecosystem, and only harvested the dividend of high value timber.
An inspirational forester Phil Morgan | 14th May 2014 Comment Forests Ecology Natural World Economics Green Economy UK Wales talis-kalnars.jpg Talis Kalnars was a pioneer of 'continuous cover' …
We need a new economics that centres our dependence on the environment to understand the coming instability of climate breakdown.
The economics of breakdown James Meadway | 29th July 2022 | Comment Climate Breakdown Economics Marxism Keynesianism Neoliberalism Inflation Cost of Living Crisis Editor’s Picks S2022 …
We must urgently move from Petropolis and dependence on fossil fuels to Ecopolis supported by regenerative economies.
The metabolism of modern cities Herbert Girardet | 13th February 2023 | Comment Economics Megamorphosis Circular Economy Biosphere Technosphere Editor’s Picks 51673619924_920c64dcf4_o.jpg We must …