Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, commented, “Sizing the problem of ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss in economic terms was the main focus for TEEB’s report to CBD COP-9. Now as we head towards COP-10 I am pleased to see that TEEB’s focus is on solutions that are both workable and economically successful.”
“State and provincial governments, local authorities, city and county councils – the audience for today’s new report – can all make a huge contribution to overall efforts towards a transition to a low carbon, resource efficient Green Economy. This is because some 70 per cent of humanity’s ecological footprint is now linked with the way resources are consumed in cities. Some Local governments are already rising to the challenge as the wide range of case studies and solutions spotlighted show – from land-use planning which incorporates ecosystem service values, to new legislation and payments for ecosystem services. Many more now need to come onboard.”
The TEEB for Local and Regional Policy Makers Report also underlines three key issues beyond the appraisal of ecosystem services that need attention if natural capital will work for local development:
- Ensure the fair distribution of rights to nature’s benefits. Policy changes often affect service distribution or access – and this must be considered during decision-making.
- Maximize use of available scientific and experience based knowledge as this will help provide a common language to capture diverse views.
- Engage stakeholders throughout the process to prioritize and develop feasible and effective local policy action.
TEEB has collaborated with the European Environment Agency’s online Environmental Atlas to present a series of case studies from around the world that highlight efforts being made to incorporate ecosystems and biodiversity into local policy initiatives. The case studies can be accessed via a link on www.teebweb.org.
Over 140 experts from science, economics and policy from more than 40 countries across the globe have been involved in the research, analysis and writing of the TEEB for Local and Regional Policy Makers Report, which has been coordinated by Dr. Heidi Wittmer of the UFZ Helmholtz Research Centre and Dr. Haripriya Gundimeda of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.
TEEB is an independent study, led by Pavan Sukhdev, hosted by United Nations Environment Programme with financial support from the European Commission; Germany, UK, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. Pavan also spearheads the Green Economy Initiative of the UN Environment Programme.
The TEEB for Local and Regional Policy Makers Report is one of a series of five inter-connected reports. These include the Report on Ecological and Economic Foundations, TEEB for Policy Makers and TEEB for Business. A TEEB for Citizens website goes live in the lead up to Nagoya and the final TEEB synthesis report will be released at the CBD COP10 meeting at Nagoya in October 2010.
Original Work:
Title of the Report: “TEEB (2010) A Quick Guide to The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Local and Regional Policy Makers”
TEEB Study Leader: Pavan Sukhdev (UNEP)
Authors: Alice Ruhweza (Katoomba Group), Elisa Calcaterra (IUCN), Augustin Berghöfer (UFZ), Nigel Dudley (Equilibrium Research), Salman Hussain (Scottish Agricultural College – SAC), Holger Robrecht (ICLEI), Ben Simmons/Ahmad Ghosn (UNEP), Simron Singh (Institute of Social Ecology Vienna), Anne Teller (European Commission), Frank Wätzold (University of Greifswald) Vincent Goodstadt (The University of Manchester), Maria Rosário Partidário (IST-Technical University of Lisbon), Silvia Wissel (UFZ)
Click here to read the Full Report:
http://www.teebweb.org/Portals/25/Documents/TEEB%20for%20Local%20and%20
About UFZ
At the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), scientists research the causes and consequences of far-reaching environmental changes. They study water resources, biological diversity, the consequences of climate change and adaptation possibilities, environmental and biotechnologies, bioenergy, the behaviour of chemicals in the environment and their effect on health, as well as modelling and social science issues. Their guiding research principle is supporting the sustainable use of natural resources and helping to secure these basic requirements of life over the long term in the context of global change. The UFZ employs 950 people at its sites in Leipzig, Halle and Magdeburg. It is financed by the German government and by the states of Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt.
The Helmholtz Association helps solve major, pressing challenges facing society, science and the economy with top scientific achievements in six research areas: Energy, Earth and Environment, Health, Key Technologies, Structure of Matter, Transport and Space. With nearly 28,000 employees in 16 research centres and an annual budget of around EUR 2.8 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organization. Its work follows in the tradition of the natural scientist Hermann von Helmholtz (1821-1894).
For more information, visit www.helmholtz.de.
Source: UFZ Press Release dated September 9, 2010.
