Tony Juniper, a former Green Party candidate in England, exec at Friends of the Earth, and Ecological Adviser to HRH The Prince of Wales, had each audience member focused whole-heartedly upon the concrete examples drawn from his new book and demonstrating exactly what Nature does for us.
But the examples only illustrated the point that we can learn to see what is in Nature now, and how to value those ‘services’ appropriately. Juniper cleverly develops a language that speaks to the bottom-line of big capitalism and inspired us all to realize, in a constructive manner, that intersection between economics and ecology that is so crucial to understanding and transforming unhealthy entrepreneurial and organizational practices.
Writer and environmental campaigner Tony Juniper joined Mary Charlotte on Monday, July 22, 2013 at the Santa Fe Radio Cafe to discuss his new book What Has Nature Ever Done For Us? How Money Really Does Grow On Trees
Environmental Outlook: “What Has Nature Ever Done For Us?” By Tony Juniper
Economic prosperity and conserving the environment is often seen as being in conflict — to get the former, you have to sacrifice the latter. But there’s a growing body of research that suggests when we don’t protect nature, short term economic gains may result in long term losses. In his new book, leading British environmentalist Tony Juniper says that’s because the things nature provides us, that we tend to think of as free, has a monetary value that can be measured. And it’s time for companies and governments to start accounting for it when doing business. For this month’s Environmental Outlook, Diane talks with Tony Juniper about his new book, “What Has Nature Ever Done for Us? How Money Really Does Grow on Trees.”
Tony Juniper is a man on a mission to share how the world can enjoy economic growth without sacrificing the environment. His work has led to high profile positions, including advisory and teaching posts at Cambridge University and with the Prince of Wales, better known as Prince Charles. Tony also co-wrote Prince Charles’ environmental book “Harmony”. His royal highness wrote the foreword for Tony’s latest book, “What Has Nature Ever Done for Us?” that is already a bestseller in the U.K. and is just now being released in the U.S. Tony joined Margaret to talk about the book and what has fueled his mission for more than three decades. Read Full Article
An emerging area of economics aims to put a price on nature as a way to justify preserving it in societies dominated by the wisdom of markets. A mountain stream, for example, provides many economic benefits beyond people who own property near it or drink water from it. The same is said of bees that pollinate our food, wetlands that clean water, and trees that drink up carbon dioxide. If nature were a corporation it would be a large cap stock. Putting a precise tag on something long seen as free is a conceptual leap. However many large companies are starting to realize the extent to which their profits rely on well-operating ecosystems. An economist and sustainability professional discussed ecosystem services and the economic value of the natural world.
Speakers:
Larry Goulder, Professor of Environmental and Resource Economics, Stanford University Tony Juniper, Associate Professor, University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership; Special Advisor to The Prince of Wales International Sustainability Unit
– Danielle Torrent
Photo by: Sonya Abrams
Commonwealth Club of California
July 25, 2013
