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Civil society engagement is important for enabling urban systems transformations that meet community needs. The development of Future Earth Australia’s Sustainable Cities and Regions: A 10-Year Strategy for Urban Systems was underpinned by cross-sectoral workshops in 7 Australian urban areas and interviews with key stakeholders to create a shared vision of both current and desired future urban structure and policy. We then created an online survey to gauge broader community feedback on the vision which emerged from these workshops and interviews, to compare their outcomes with the views of community members who could be directly impacted by urban decision-making. The survey consisted of 35 questions, which were shaped by the issues emerging from the workshops and interviews. The sample was self-selected, and the 641 respondents represented a cross-section of individuals interested in sustainable cities. Our survey results supported and expanded on the major conclusions of FEA’s National workshop and interview processes, including the need to develop transparent and responsive decision-making processes, limit waste and pollution and develop effective housing and transport alternatives with mixed-use neighborhoods and adequate green space.
Milo Costanza-Van Den Belt; Tayanah O’Donnell; Robert Webb; Eleanor Robson; Robert Costanza; Jiaqian Ling; Sarah Crowe; Hao Han. Community Preferences for Urban Systems Transformation in Australia. Sustainability 2021, 13, 4749 .
AMA StyleMilo Costanza-Van Den Belt, Tayanah O’Donnell, Robert Webb, Eleanor Robson, Robert Costanza, Jiaqian Ling, Sarah Crowe, Hao Han. Community Preferences for Urban Systems Transformation in Australia. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (9):4749.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMilo Costanza-Van Den Belt; Tayanah O’Donnell; Robert Webb; Eleanor Robson; Robert Costanza; Jiaqian Ling; Sarah Crowe; Hao Han. 2021. "Community Preferences for Urban Systems Transformation in Australia." Sustainability 13, no. 9: 4749.
Carl Folke; Åsa Gren; Jonas Larsson; Robert Costanza. Cities and the Biosphere. Ambio 2021, 1 -2.
AMA StyleCarl Folke, Åsa Gren, Jonas Larsson, Robert Costanza. Cities and the Biosphere. Ambio. 2021; ():1-2.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCarl Folke; Åsa Gren; Jonas Larsson; Robert Costanza. 2021. "Cities and the Biosphere." Ambio , no. : 1-2.
Discounting the future is essential to inform long-term decisions, but the future of humanity is being put in jeopardy by using the same discount rate for all capital types. Different types of capital assets (built, human, social, natural) have inherently different characteristics and contribute differently to the production of all goods and services. They will behave and depreciate differently and will thus require different discount rates and different approaches to discounting. Here, we estimate the net present value (NPV) of global ES recognizing that ecosystem services are the product of the interaction of the four different types of capital that each have different characteristics. We combine a range of different discount rates for each of the 4 types of capital according to their relative contributions to the production and value of each of 17 global ecosystem services. We estimate that the NPV of global ES ranges from $5.7 to $9.1 × 1015 (quadrillion 2011$USD). For comparison, the NPV of global GDP estimated in the same way would be about $2.9 to $4.8 × 1015. This more nuanced approach to discounting can improve information for long-term project appraisal and decision making and help build a more sustainable and desirable future.
Robert Costanza; Ida Kubiszewski; Natalie Stoeckl; Tom Kompas. Pluralistic discounting recognizing different capital contributions: An example estimating the net present value of global ecosystem services. Ecological Economics 2021, 183, 106961 .
AMA StyleRobert Costanza, Ida Kubiszewski, Natalie Stoeckl, Tom Kompas. Pluralistic discounting recognizing different capital contributions: An example estimating the net present value of global ecosystem services. Ecological Economics. 2021; 183 ():106961.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRobert Costanza; Ida Kubiszewski; Natalie Stoeckl; Tom Kompas. 2021. "Pluralistic discounting recognizing different capital contributions: An example estimating the net present value of global ecosystem services." Ecological Economics 183, no. : 106961.
Ecosystems (natural capital) produce a range of benefits to humans. Natural capital is best thought of as common property since many of the ecosystem services it helps produce are non-rival and/or non-excludable. Private property regimes and markets alone are ineffective and inappropriate institutions to manage them sustainably. These systems can be better managed as commons, using more nuanced private and community property rights and Common Asset Trusts (CATs), with legal precedent in the Public Trust Doctrine. Effective CATs embody a generalized version of Elinore Ostrom's eight core design principles for sustainable commons management: (1) shared identity and purpose; (2) equitable distribution of contributions and benefits; (3) fair and inclusive decision-making; (4) monitoring agreed behaviours; (5) graduated responses; (6) fast and fair conflict resolution; (7) authority to self-govern; and (8) collaborative relations with other groups and spatial scales. Here, we describe a few existing and proposed systems that approximate effective CATs. We also suggest how Costa Rica can transform its existing payment for ecosystem services (PES) scheme into a national CAT. Finally, we describe how CATs can facilitate more fair and effective public/private partnerships (PPPs) to invest in natural capital and ecosystem services.
Robert Costanza; Paul W.B. Atkins; Marcello Hernandez-Blanco; Ida Kubiszewski. Common asset trusts to effectively steward natural capital and ecosystem services at multiple scales. Journal of Environmental Management 2020, 280, 111801 .
AMA StyleRobert Costanza, Paul W.B. Atkins, Marcello Hernandez-Blanco, Ida Kubiszewski. Common asset trusts to effectively steward natural capital and ecosystem services at multiple scales. Journal of Environmental Management. 2020; 280 ():111801.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRobert Costanza; Paul W.B. Atkins; Marcello Hernandez-Blanco; Ida Kubiszewski. 2020. "Common asset trusts to effectively steward natural capital and ecosystem services at multiple scales." Journal of Environmental Management 280, no. : 111801.
We present an alternative approach to estimating the spatial footprint of energy consumption, as this represents a major fraction of the ecological footprint (EF). Rather than depicting the current lack of sustainability that comes from estimating a footprint based on uptake of carbon emissions (the method used in EF accounting), our proposed “Renewable Energy Equivalent Footprint” (REEF) instead depicts a hypothetical world in which the electricity and fuel demands are met entirely from renewable energy. The analysis shows that current human energy demands could theoretically be met by renewable energy and remain within the biocapacity of one planet. However, with current technology there is no margin to leave any biocapacity for nature, leading to the investigation of two additional scenarios: (1) radical electrification of the energy supply, assuming 75% of final energy demand can be met with electricity, and (2) adopting technology in which electricity is used to convert atmospheric gases into synthetic fuel. The REEF demonstrates that a sustainable and desirable future powered by renewable energy: (i) may be possible, depending on the worldwide adoption of consumption patterns typical of several key exemplar countries; (ii) is highly dependent on major future technological development, namely electrification and synthetic fuels; and (iii) is still likely to require appropriation of a substantial, albeit hopefully sustainable, fraction of the world’s forest area.
James Ward; Steve Mohr; Robert Costanza; Paul Sutton; Luca Coscieme. Renewable Energy Equivalent Footprint (REEF): A Method for Envisioning a Sustainable Energy Future. Energies 2020, 13, 6160 .
AMA StyleJames Ward, Steve Mohr, Robert Costanza, Paul Sutton, Luca Coscieme. Renewable Energy Equivalent Footprint (REEF): A Method for Envisioning a Sustainable Energy Future. Energies. 2020; 13 (23):6160.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJames Ward; Steve Mohr; Robert Costanza; Paul Sutton; Luca Coscieme. 2020. "Renewable Energy Equivalent Footprint (REEF): A Method for Envisioning a Sustainable Energy Future." Energies 13, no. 23: 6160.
Some countries have been more successful than others at dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. When we explore the different policy approaches adopted as well as the underlying socio-economic factors, we note an interesting set of correlations: countries led by women leaders have fared significantly better than those led by men on a wide range of dimensions concerning the global health crisis. In this paper, we analyze available data for 35 countries, focusing on the following variables: number of deaths per capita due to COVID-19, number of days with reported deaths, peaks in daily deaths, deaths occurred on the first day of lockdown, and excess mortality. Results show that countries governed by female leaders experienced much fewer COVID-19 deaths per capita and were more effective and rapid at flattening the epidemic’s curve, with lower peaks in daily deaths. We argue that there are both contingent and structural reasons that may explain these stark differences. First of all, most women-led governments were more prompt at introducing restrictive measures in the initial phase of the epidemic, prioritizing public health over economic concerns, and more successful at eliciting collaboration from the population. Secondly, most countries led by women are also those with a stronger focus on social equality, human needs and generosity. These societies are more receptive to political agendas that place social and environmental wellbeing at the core of national policymaking.
Luca Coscieme; Lorenzo Fioramonti; Lars F. Mortensen; Kate E. Pickett; Ida Kubiszewski; Hunter Lovins; Jacqueline McGlade; Kristín Vala Ragnarsdóttir; Debra Roberts; Robert Costanza; Roberto De Vogli; Richard Wilkinson. Women in power: Female leadership and public health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleLuca Coscieme, Lorenzo Fioramonti, Lars F. Mortensen, Kate E. Pickett, Ida Kubiszewski, Hunter Lovins, Jacqueline McGlade, Kristín Vala Ragnarsdóttir, Debra Roberts, Robert Costanza, Roberto De Vogli, Richard Wilkinson. Women in power: Female leadership and public health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuca Coscieme; Lorenzo Fioramonti; Lars F. Mortensen; Kate E. Pickett; Ida Kubiszewski; Hunter Lovins; Jacqueline McGlade; Kristín Vala Ragnarsdóttir; Debra Roberts; Robert Costanza; Roberto De Vogli; Richard Wilkinson. 2020. "Women in power: Female leadership and public health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic." , no. : 1.
Official data on daily PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, and maximum 8-h average O3 (O3_8h) concentrations from January 2015 to December 2018 were evaluated and air pollution status and dynamics in Shanghai municipality were examined. Factors affecting air quality, including meteorological factors and socio-economic indicators, were analyzed. The main findings were that: (1) Overall air quality status in Shanghai municipality has improved and number of days meeting ‘Chinese ambient air quality standards’ (CAAQS) Grade II has increased. (2) The most frequent major pollutant in Shanghai municipality is O3 (which exceeded the standard on 110 days in 2015, 84 days in 2016, 126 days in 2017, 113 days in 2018), followed by PM2.5 (120days in 2015, 104 days in 2016, 67 days in 2017, 61 days in 2018) and NO2 (50 days in 2015, 67 days in 2016, 79 days in 2017, 63 days in 2018). (3) PM2.5 pollution in winter and O3 pollution in summer are the main air quality challenges in Shanghai municipality. (4) Statistical analysis suggested that PM2.5, PM10, SO2 and NO2 concentrations were significantly negatively associated with precipitation (Prec) and atmosphere temperature (T) (p < 0.05), while the O3 concentration was significantly positively associated with Prec and T (p < 0.05). Lower accumulation of PM, SO2, NO2, and CO and more serious O3 pollution were revealed during months with higher temperature and more precipitation in Shanghai. The correlation between the socio-economic factors and the air pollutants suggest that further rigorous measures are needed to control PM2.5 and that further studies are needed to identify O3 formation mechanisms and control strategies. The results provide scientific insights into meteorological factors and socio-economic indicators influencing air pollution in Shanghai.
Yuanyuan Chen; Yang Bai; Hongtao Liu; Juha Alatalo; Bo Jiang. Temporal variations in ambient air quality indicators in Shanghai municipality, China. Scientific Reports 2020, 10, 1 -11.
AMA StyleYuanyuan Chen, Yang Bai, Hongtao Liu, Juha Alatalo, Bo Jiang. Temporal variations in ambient air quality indicators in Shanghai municipality, China. Scientific Reports. 2020; 10 (1):1-11.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYuanyuan Chen; Yang Bai; Hongtao Liu; Juha Alatalo; Bo Jiang. 2020. "Temporal variations in ambient air quality indicators in Shanghai municipality, China." Scientific Reports 10, no. 1: 1-11.
The adoption of agro-ecological practices in agricultural systems worldwide can contribute to increased food production without compromising future food security, especially under the current biodiversity loss and climate change scenarios. Despite the increase in publications on agro-ecological research and practices during the last 35 years, a weak link between that knowledge and changed farmer practices has led to few examples of agro-ecological protocols and effective delivery systems to agriculturalists. In an attempt to reduce this gap, we synthesised the main concepts related to biodiversity and its functions by creating a web-based interactive spiral (www.biodiversityfunction.com). This tool explains and describes a pathway for achieving agro-ecological outcomes, starting from the basic principle of biodiversity and its functions to enhanced biodiversity on farms. Within this pathway, 11 key steps are identified and sequentially presented on a web platform through which key players (farmers, farmer networks, policy makers, scientists and other stakeholders) can navigate and learn. Because in many areas of the world the necessary knowledge needed for achieving the adoption of particular agro-ecological techniques is not available, the spiral approach can provide the necessary conceptual steps needed for obtaining and understanding such knowledge by navigating through the interactive pathway. This novel approach aims to improve our understanding of the sequence from the concept of biodiversity to harnessing its power to improve prospects for ‘sustainable intensification’ of agricultural systems worldwide.
Mauricio González-Chang; Stephen D. Wratten; Morgan W. Shields; Robert Costanza; Matteo Dainese; Geoff M. Gurr; Janine Johnson; Daniel S. Karp; Jan Willem Ketelaar; Jerry Nboyine; Jules Pretty; Ryan Rayl; Harpinder Sandhu; Mark Walker; Wenwu Zhou. Understanding the pathways from biodiversity to agro-ecological outcomes: A new, interactive approach. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 2020, 301, 107053 .
AMA StyleMauricio González-Chang, Stephen D. Wratten, Morgan W. Shields, Robert Costanza, Matteo Dainese, Geoff M. Gurr, Janine Johnson, Daniel S. Karp, Jan Willem Ketelaar, Jerry Nboyine, Jules Pretty, Ryan Rayl, Harpinder Sandhu, Mark Walker, Wenwu Zhou. Understanding the pathways from biodiversity to agro-ecological outcomes: A new, interactive approach. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 2020; 301 ():107053.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMauricio González-Chang; Stephen D. Wratten; Morgan W. Shields; Robert Costanza; Matteo Dainese; Geoff M. Gurr; Janine Johnson; Daniel S. Karp; Jan Willem Ketelaar; Jerry Nboyine; Jules Pretty; Ryan Rayl; Harpinder Sandhu; Mark Walker; Wenwu Zhou. 2020. "Understanding the pathways from biodiversity to agro-ecological outcomes: A new, interactive approach." Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 301, no. : 107053.
Natural vegetation is important for ecosystem services (ESs) provision, but is decreasing rapidly due to human-driven land use change, especially rapid expansion of commercial plantations. This is leading to a decrease in ESs provision, so measures are urgently needed to protect natural vegetation. Human activities, especially commercial plantations, can also lead to differences in vegetation types and associated ESs provision. This feature varies with altitude, an issue which has received insufficient attention. In this study, four ESs relevant to stakeholders (carbon storage, nitrogen export, sediment retention and water yield) were assessed. InVEST models and statistical methods (ANOVA; exploratory hierarchical clustering) were used to analyse: 1) similarities/differences in ESs provision between different vegetation types and 2) spatial differences in ESs in different altitude zones in the Xishuangbanna region of China. The results showed that vegetation types in Xishuangbanna and their ESs supply capacity differed markedly, with the overall ESs supply capacity of natural forests exceeding that of commercial plantations. Promotion of mixed organic agriculture can be a balanced measure to secure future economic development and ecological protection. This study can act as reference for vegetation protection in other areas within and beyond China.
Zhou Fang; Yang Bai; Bo Jiang; Juha M. Alatalo; Gang Liu; Huimin Wang. Quantifying variations in ecosystem services in altitude-associated vegetation types in a tropical region of China. Science of The Total Environment 2020, 726, 138565 .
AMA StyleZhou Fang, Yang Bai, Bo Jiang, Juha M. Alatalo, Gang Liu, Huimin Wang. Quantifying variations in ecosystem services in altitude-associated vegetation types in a tropical region of China. Science of The Total Environment. 2020; 726 ():138565.
Chicago/Turabian StyleZhou Fang; Yang Bai; Bo Jiang; Juha M. Alatalo; Gang Liu; Huimin Wang. 2020. "Quantifying variations in ecosystem services in altitude-associated vegetation types in a tropical region of China." Science of The Total Environment 726, no. : 138565.
Ecosystem services (ES) are the ecological characteristics, functions, or processes that directly or indirectly contribute to sustainable human wellbeing. The ecosystems that provide the services are ‘natural capital’ (NC) using the general definition of capital as a stock that yields a flow of services over time. But these concepts must be embedded in a whole systems view of the interdependencies between humans and the rest of nature, as espoused by ecological economics from its inception. Valuing NC and ES is therefore about assessing their contributions (in complex interaction with built, human, and social capital) toward the goal of sustainable wellbeing of the whole system of humans and the rest of nature. This recognizes that sustainable human wellbeing cannot be achieved without the wellbeing of the rest of nature. To achieve this, an integrated approach to valuation toward the three sub-goals of efficient allocation (E-value), fair distribution (F-value) and sustainable scale (S-value) is necessary. This article reviews these ideas, and discusses an agenda to improve understanding and valuation of NC and ES toward the goals of efficiency, fairness, and sustainability in a dynamic, whole systems context.
Robert Costanza. Valuing natural capital and ecosystem services toward the goals of efficiency, fairness, and sustainability. Ecosystem Services 2020, 43, 101096 .
AMA StyleRobert Costanza. Valuing natural capital and ecosystem services toward the goals of efficiency, fairness, and sustainability. Ecosystem Services. 2020; 43 ():101096.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRobert Costanza. 2020. "Valuing natural capital and ecosystem services toward the goals of efficiency, fairness, and sustainability." Ecosystem Services 43, no. : 101096.
Systematic knowledge of the development, trends, and limitations of wetland ecosystem services (WES) is extremely meaningful for the direction of WES studies and wetland management. A systematic literature review was conducted by collecting 1711 peer-reviewed articles through the Web of Science and ScienceDirect by searching the “topic” domain using the combined keywords “ecosystem service” OR “ecosystem services” and “wetland”. The results indicated that current studies focus on WES evaluation, driving factors, wetland management, and policy design, which accounted for 90.9% of the obtained articles. The driving factors are mainly multiple factors, land use change, policy and management, and climate change. Riverine wetlands, multiple wetland types, and lacustrine wetlands are the main wetland types in existing studies, and the evaluated WES types are mainly supporting and regulating services. The applied evaluation approaches mainly include the biophysical and qualitative methods, which accounted for 76.4% and 14.3% of the total studies, respectively. Two main limitations in WES studies are a lack of unified WES evaluation indicators and comprehensive WES studies. In the future, WES research should focus on generating unified WES evaluation indicators for comparison across different studies and up-scaling. Long-term program should be established to gather data for creating ecological production functions to determine the marginal influence of wetland land characteristics on the final WES to refine the management options. Stakeholders should also be involved in the process of designing payments for ecosystem services programs.
Xibao Xu; Minkun Chen; Guishan Yang; Bo Jiang; Ji Zhang. Wetland ecosystem services research: A critical review. Global Ecology and Conservation 2020, 22, e01027 .
AMA StyleXibao Xu, Minkun Chen, Guishan Yang, Bo Jiang, Ji Zhang. Wetland ecosystem services research: A critical review. Global Ecology and Conservation. 2020; 22 ():e01027.
Chicago/Turabian StyleXibao Xu; Minkun Chen; Guishan Yang; Bo Jiang; Ji Zhang. 2020. "Wetland ecosystem services research: A critical review." Global Ecology and Conservation 22, no. : e01027.
It is generally recognized that marginal changes in landscape characteristics can influence multiple ecosystem services, but the causal relationships involved are still very unclear due to lack of knowledge and data gaps. Planners and managers need spatial information and evidence on these causal relationships for systematic and sound land planning. This study evaluated the effects of landscape characteristics on seven types of ecosystem services and the trade-offs among the ecosystem services by combining statistical data and the InVEST model with correlation analysis across Taihu Lake Basin, China. We found that all ecosystem services except food production increased from 2005 to 2015 in the whole basin. We also found that correlations between landscape characteristic metrics and ecosystem services indicators changed over time for different types of ecosystem service indicators at the county scale, and between county and pixel scale. The results demonstrated the effects of landscape characteristic metrics on multiple ecosystem services indicators and the tradeoffs among these ecosystem services indicators, and also revealed scale effects on correlations and tradeoffs. Therefore planners and managers need to consider both landscape characteristic metrics and scale effects for effective landscape management to improve ecosystem services and reduce unwanted tradeoffs.
Yang Bai; Yuanyuan Chen; Juha Alatalo; Zhangqian Yang; Bo Jiang. Scale effects on the relationships between land characteristics and ecosystem services- a case study in Taihu Lake Basin, China. Science of The Total Environment 2020, 716, 137083 .
AMA StyleYang Bai, Yuanyuan Chen, Juha Alatalo, Zhangqian Yang, Bo Jiang. Scale effects on the relationships between land characteristics and ecosystem services- a case study in Taihu Lake Basin, China. Science of The Total Environment. 2020; 716 ():137083.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYang Bai; Yuanyuan Chen; Juha Alatalo; Zhangqian Yang; Bo Jiang. 2020. "Scale effects on the relationships between land characteristics and ecosystem services- a case study in Taihu Lake Basin, China." Science of The Total Environment 716, no. : 137083.
Ecological economics (EE) was originally envisioned as a transdiscipline with the following core characteristics and goals: (1) a focus on the primary goal of sustainable wellbeing of both humans and the rest of nature; (2) three broad sub-goals of sustainable scale, fair distribution, and efficient allocation. (3) intelligent pluralism and integration across disciplines, rather than territorial disciplinary differentiation; (4) concern with the functioning of the interdependent system of humans embedded in the rest of nature from an evolutionary, whole systems perspective; (5) an emphasis on the development of valuation techniques that build on a broad understanding of the interaction of built, human, social and natural capital to produce sustainable wellbeing. These characteristics and goals make ecological economics applicable to some of the major problems facing humanity today, and especially to the problem of improving humanity’s wellbeing and assuring its survival within the biosphere. Going forward EE must move further beyond the argument culture to finally become the meta-paradigm that it was originally envisioned to be. It can use its tools and vision to enable society to overcome its addiction to the current unsustainable growth paradigm and make the transition to the world we all want.
Robert Costanza. Ecological economics in 2049: Getting beyond the argument culture to the world we all want. Ecological Economics 2019, 168, 106484 .
AMA StyleRobert Costanza. Ecological economics in 2049: Getting beyond the argument culture to the world we all want. Ecological Economics. 2019; 168 ():106484.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRobert Costanza. 2019. "Ecological economics in 2049: Getting beyond the argument culture to the world we all want." Ecological Economics 168, no. : 106484.
Ecosystem services are important for sustaining human survival and sustainable socio-economic development. For the past two decades, ecosystem services studies have greatly promoted the application of ecosystem services science in conservation. As a scientific method to integrate multi-regional and multi-scale ecosystem service providers and beneficiaries, ecosystem service supply and demand coupling mechanisms and payments for ecosystem services programs are closely linked. In this paper, we first provide an overview of the payments for ecosystem services concept and an evaluation of its effectiveness in implementation. We then analyze the correlation between payments for ecosystem services and supply–demand coupling mechanisms and propose a framework to link these two ideas. China’s practice in implementing ecological redline policy and institutional reforms for protected area management will provide a good experimental platform for comprehensive payments for ecosystem service design and effectiveness evaluation within China and beyond.
Bo Jiang; Yuanyuan Chen; Yang Bai; Xibao Xu. Supply–Demand Coupling Mechanisms for Policy Design. Sustainability 2019, 11, 5760 .
AMA StyleBo Jiang, Yuanyuan Chen, Yang Bai, Xibao Xu. Supply–Demand Coupling Mechanisms for Policy Design. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (20):5760.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBo Jiang; Yuanyuan Chen; Yang Bai; Xibao Xu. 2019. "Supply–Demand Coupling Mechanisms for Policy Design." Sustainability 11, no. 20: 5760.
Rice paddy cultivation has rooted in the Asian culture for thousands of years. At present, paddy fields as traditional agriculture in Asia provide not only ecosystem goods including rice and fibre production, but also other ecosystem services for human society. However, it is still not clear whether rice paddy fields like coastal wetlands provide typhoon protection function, although it is often regarded as a kind of artificial wetlands. We examined the relationship between the economic damages caused by typhoons and the presence of paddy fields with controlling for confounding variables including wind speed, typhoon duration and protective structures such as seawalls from 1989 to 2016 for China. Five economic regression models were proposed based on a variety of observation data coupled with GIS method. We found that paddy fields substitute for natural wetlands in mitigating the growing threat from typhoons in a changing climate. However, dry croplands appear not to provide a protective role to reduce typhoon damage. Using the multiple regression model we estimated the economic value of protection from typhoon damages provided by paddy fields to be an average of CNY 530,474/km2 and a median of CNY 127,436/km2 in China. This finding, if confirmed by renewed studies in the future, will have a significant impact on both ecosystem valuation of paddy fields and coastal management to mitigate the effect of natural disasters in a sustainable way.
Xin Liu; Yebao Wang; Robert Costanza; Ida Kubiszewski; Ning Xu; Zhiqiang Gao; Meihua Yuan; Ruiying Geng; He Chen; Xiaoke Hu. Rice paddy fields’ hidden value for typhoon protection in coastal areas. Ecological Indicators 2019, 107, 105610 .
AMA StyleXin Liu, Yebao Wang, Robert Costanza, Ida Kubiszewski, Ning Xu, Zhiqiang Gao, Meihua Yuan, Ruiying Geng, He Chen, Xiaoke Hu. Rice paddy fields’ hidden value for typhoon protection in coastal areas. Ecological Indicators. 2019; 107 ():105610.
Chicago/Turabian StyleXin Liu; Yebao Wang; Robert Costanza; Ida Kubiszewski; Ning Xu; Zhiqiang Gao; Meihua Yuan; Ruiying Geng; He Chen; Xiaoke Hu. 2019. "Rice paddy fields’ hidden value for typhoon protection in coastal areas." Ecological Indicators 107, no. : 105610.
Increasingly, empirical evidence refutes many of the theoretical pillars of mainstream economics. These theories have persisted despite the fact that they support unsustainable and undesirable environmental, social, and economic outcomes. Continuing to embrace them puts at risk the possibility of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and overcoming other global challenges. We discuss a selection of paradoxes and delusions surrounding mainstream economic theories related to: (1) efficiency and resource use, (2) wealth and wellbeing, (3) economic growth, and (4) the distribution of wealth within and between rich and poor nations. We describe a wellbeing economy as an alternative for guiding policy development. In 2018, a network of Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo), (supported by, but distinct from, the larger Wellbeing Economy Alliance—WEAll) promoting new forms of governance that diverge from the ones on which the G7 and G20 are based, has been launched and is now a living project. Members of WEGo aim at advancing the three key principles of a wellbeing economy: Live within planetary ecological boundaries, ensure equitable distribution of wealth and opportunity, and efficiently allocate resources (including environmental and social public goods), bringing wellbeing to the heart of policymaking, and in particular economic policymaking. This network has potential to fundamentally re-shape current global leadership still anchored to old economic paradigms that give primacy to economic growth over environmental and social wealth and wellbeing.
Luca Coscieme; Paul Sutton; Lars F. Mortensen; Ida Kubiszewski; Robert Costanza; Katherine Trebeck; Federico M. Pulselli; Biagio F. Giannetti; Lorenzo Fioramonti. Overcoming the Myths of Mainstream Economics to Enable a New Wellbeing Economy. Sustainability 2019, 11, 4374 .
AMA StyleLuca Coscieme, Paul Sutton, Lars F. Mortensen, Ida Kubiszewski, Robert Costanza, Katherine Trebeck, Federico M. Pulselli, Biagio F. Giannetti, Lorenzo Fioramonti. Overcoming the Myths of Mainstream Economics to Enable a New Wellbeing Economy. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (16):4374.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuca Coscieme; Paul Sutton; Lars F. Mortensen; Ida Kubiszewski; Robert Costanza; Katherine Trebeck; Federico M. Pulselli; Biagio F. Giannetti; Lorenzo Fioramonti. 2019. "Overcoming the Myths of Mainstream Economics to Enable a New Wellbeing Economy." Sustainability 11, no. 16: 4374.
This paper offers a state-wide assessment of coastal and marine ecosystems services (ES), including Indigenous perspectives, in the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia, to inform policy developments in the region. An economic impact of AUD 1.3 billion/yr and additional economic contribution to the NT economy of AUD 1.4 billion/yr was estimated for the selected key services, in addition to affording >6,000 jobs. The selected ES include: provisioning—commercial fisheries, and pearl and crocodile cultivation; regulating and maintenance—blue carbon, storm protection and erosion control, and genepool protection; cultural—recreational fishing, tourism, amenity and other non-fishing recreational, and Indigenous cultural values, which were evaluated applying a mix of market and non-market valuation tools. A simple framework of measuring each ES both for its ‘Economic Impact’—direct and indirect market value (i.e. reflection in GDP), and ‘Economic Value’—market and non-market values for their contributions to the broader NT economy (i.e. human well-being), was applied. Due to methodological limitations, Indigenous cultural values were partially measured using a substitute value for 25% of government Indigenous expenditure on four welfare sectors that relate to benefits people obtain from their coastal and marine resources. It advocates for payments for ES (PES) mechanisms to support equitable enterprises involving Indigenous communities. Overall, this economic assessment of the NT coastal and marine resources presents integrated information to initiate a dialogue on alternative and sustainable development options in the region, and can help in addressing similar development issues occurring in many parts across the globe.
Kamaljit K. Sangha; Natalie Stoeckl; Neville Crossman; Robert Costanza. A state-wide economic assessment of coastal and marine ecosystem services to inform sustainable development policies in the Northern Territory, Australia. Marine Policy 2019, 107, 103595 .
AMA StyleKamaljit K. Sangha, Natalie Stoeckl, Neville Crossman, Robert Costanza. A state-wide economic assessment of coastal and marine ecosystem services to inform sustainable development policies in the Northern Territory, Australia. Marine Policy. 2019; 107 ():103595.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKamaljit K. Sangha; Natalie Stoeckl; Neville Crossman; Robert Costanza. 2019. "A state-wide economic assessment of coastal and marine ecosystem services to inform sustainable development policies in the Northern Territory, Australia." Marine Policy 107, no. : 103595.
Exclusion of Indigenous and local communities' connections to the rest-of-nature is a typical problem in policy-decision making. This paper highlights the key attributes of these connections and suggests evaluation pathways to mainstream them into policy development. For this, we integrate and apply the ecosystem services (ES) and human capability concepts. Five socio-cultural and economic values relating to peoples' well-being are identified as the core attributes for developing policy tools: (1) livelihoods; (2) social values; (3) cultural values; (4) spiritual values; and (5) capabilities. For policy tools, common ES frameworks and the relevant ES evaluation techniques that can be applied along with community participatory approaches, are considered. We recommend that developing a pluralistic policy platform is essential to appropriately comprehend Indigenous and local communities' connections with nature for enhancing well-being, not just sustaining livelihoods. A three-step process: (1) identifying attributes of natural systems that are vital for peoples' well-being (beyond their livelihoods); (2) developing locally-specific integrated frameworks; and (3) evaluating identified attributes (monetary and non-monetary), is clearly described in this paper to inform the policy-makers. Recognition and understanding of Indigenous and local communities’ values for nature beyond livelihood opportunities is essential for informing inclusive sustainable development processes and policies.
Kamaljit K. Sangha; Jeremy Russell-Smith; Robert Costanza. Mainstreaming indigenous and local communities’ connections with nature for policy decision-making. Global Ecology and Conservation 2019, 19, e00668 .
AMA StyleKamaljit K. Sangha, Jeremy Russell-Smith, Robert Costanza. Mainstreaming indigenous and local communities’ connections with nature for policy decision-making. Global Ecology and Conservation. 2019; 19 ():e00668.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKamaljit K. Sangha; Jeremy Russell-Smith; Robert Costanza. 2019. "Mainstreaming indigenous and local communities’ connections with nature for policy decision-making." Global Ecology and Conservation 19, no. : e00668.
This study presents the effects of access to Ecosystem Services (ESS) on human wellbeing. In order to fulfil the research objective, we interviewed villagers from 104 households who were exclusively engaged in collecting ESS. Data were also collected from key informants, local leaders, and official records. Higher access (HA) to ESS significantly increased the availability of cleaner water for domestic non-drinking purposes. Access to sufficient food, however, was significantly lower across the HA households because of greater involvement in ESS collection. Overall, in this society, HA families enjoyed significantly greater freedom than Lower access (LA) families. Increased competition for ESS extraction resulting from higher access significantly reduced a collector's physical strength and had larger negative impacts on their mental health (self-esteem decreased and anger level increased) compared to LA collector. There were also significantly stronger financial conditions in the HA families than LA families. Greater access encouraged frequent collaboration and cooperation between HA collectors for collecting more ESS leading to a significant enhancement in social cohesion in compare to LA families. Composite wellbeing scores of the respective wellbeing criteria show that only physical health and economic security would significantly improve with greater access to ESS collection. Thus, ESS can have significant impacts on human wellbeing. However, without integration of other wellbeing improvement programs, sole dependency on the ecosystems would cause resource degradation. These results would greatly assist to improve the current framework of ESS and human wellbeing.
Abu S.M.G. Kibria; Robert Costanza; Colin Groves; Alison M. Behie. Does higher access ensure greater wellbeing? ‒ In the perspective of forest ecosystem services of the Sundarbans mangrove forest, Bangladesh. Ocean & Coastal Management 2019, 177, 22 -30.
AMA StyleAbu S.M.G. Kibria, Robert Costanza, Colin Groves, Alison M. Behie. Does higher access ensure greater wellbeing? ‒ In the perspective of forest ecosystem services of the Sundarbans mangrove forest, Bangladesh. Ocean & Coastal Management. 2019; 177 ():22-30.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAbu S.M.G. Kibria; Robert Costanza; Colin Groves; Alison M. Behie. 2019. "Does higher access ensure greater wellbeing? ‒ In the perspective of forest ecosystem services of the Sundarbans mangrove forest, Bangladesh." Ocean & Coastal Management 177, no. : 22-30.
China has relied on seawalls for storm protection along its coasts for decades. In contrast, the storm protection functions of coastal wetlands are often ignored by decision makers in China. We examined 127 historical storms with consequent economic loss to China from 1989 to 2016 and estimated the value of coastal wetlands with controlling for seawalls for storm protection. A regression model with the natural log of damage per unit gross domestic product in the storm swath as the dependent variable and explanatory variables including the length of existing seawalls in the storm swath and the natural logs of wind speed, storm duration and wetland area in the storm swath was highly significant and explained 59.2% of the variation in relative damages. Results show that a gain of 1 km2 of wetlands corresponds to an average CNY 83.90 million (median = CNY 11.87 million) decrease in storm damage from specific storms. Coastal wetlands are gifts of nature and self-maintaining so they have zero construction and maintenance costs. They also provide many other valuable ecosystem services that hard seawalls do not.
Xin Liu; Yebao Wang; Robert Costanza; Ida Kubiszewski; Ning Xu; Meihua Yuan; Ruiying Geng. The value of China’s coastal wetlands and seawalls for storm protection. Ecosystem Services 2019, 36, 100905 .
AMA StyleXin Liu, Yebao Wang, Robert Costanza, Ida Kubiszewski, Ning Xu, Meihua Yuan, Ruiying Geng. The value of China’s coastal wetlands and seawalls for storm protection. Ecosystem Services. 2019; 36 ():100905.
Chicago/Turabian StyleXin Liu; Yebao Wang; Robert Costanza; Ida Kubiszewski; Ning Xu; Meihua Yuan; Ruiying Geng. 2019. "The value of China’s coastal wetlands and seawalls for storm protection." Ecosystem Services 36, no. : 100905.