TEEB: nature is the biggest untapped ally against climate change
2 September 2009, Berlin (Germany). The new update on “The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity” released today points out that investing in restoration and maintenance of the Earth’s multi-trillion dollar ecosystems can have a key role in countering climate change and climate-proofing vulnerable economies.
“The TEEB study points in the right direction: the only way to save money in the future is to invest today in the protection of the Earth’s natural resources and systems” stated Sebastian Winkler, Head of Countdown 2010.
Today’s update warns that the planet’s biological diversity and ecological infrastructure are increasingly being put at risk from the impact of rising greenhouse gases. The report sets out the climate risks and opportunities for two of the world’s most threatened and diverse ecosystems – coral reefs and tropical forests and shows how climate change could damage entire ecosystems, with devastating economic consequences.
The report also includes clear policy recommendations for international climate negotiators, as they prepare for the upcoming climate convention in Copenhagen, Denmark, later this year.
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) is a project launched by Germany and the European Commission in response to a proposal by the G8+5 Environment Ministers (Potsdam, Germany 2007) to develop a global study on the economics of biodiversity loss. The study is hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme. The issues update was launched today in Berlin by TEEB study leader Pavan Sukhdev, with German Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel, European Commissioner for the Environment Stavros Dimas and UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of UNEP Achim Steiner.
