How does investment in the environment bring benefits to society, including through health, wellbeing, and natural capital? Who are the beneficiaries and how do we quantify and communicate those benefits – and costs?

Background

Adopting a natural capital approach improves understanding of economic, social, cultural, and environmental values. Helping to encourage behaviours and practices that support stewardship and sustainability.

Next steps

Get in touch with ari.comment@go-science.gov.uk

Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

DEFRA Research and innovation interests GOVUK

Related UKRI funded projects

  • GoNaturePositive!

    The world’s economic systems do not currently recognise the value of nature to planetary and human health, and mainstream economic drivers negatively affect the natural world both directly and indirectly. The degradation...

    Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee

    Lead research organisation: UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project specifically addresses the benefits of investing in the environment, including health, wellbeing, and natural capital, and proposes a Nature-Positive Economy approach.

  • NEC05943 Natural Capital Knowledge Exchange to Support Healthy Local Economies (Open Call)

    Two current ambitions of the Government are: to create a fairer and more balanced economy in which all parts of the country benefit from growth that is environmentally sustainable and inter-generationally fair, as set ou...

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: UK CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY & HYDROLOGY

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project addresses the question fully and the authors have the necessary expertise.

  • ADVANCES (ADVancing Analysis of Natural Capital in LandscapE DecisionS)

    Natural Capital is a fundamental component of an economy's stock of resources upon which human health, well-being and wealth depend. Economic growth and development are conditioned by the economy's overall capital stock ...

    Funded by: UKRI

    Lead research organisation: University of East Anglia

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project addresses the question fully and the authors have the necessary expertise.

  • Evidence for nature based solutions (NBSGap)

    In order to make informed strategy for the good of UK citizens and to implement it through well-founded and informed policy, the policy-makers need evidence. They need to know what is known in an area and what has yet to...

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: NERC CEH (Up to 30.11.2019)

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project partially addresses the question and the authors have the necessary expertise.

  • Valuing Green Infrastructure Through Tree Assessment TooLs (VITAL)

    In recent years environmental and social scientists working with economists have begun to understand the value that nature provides to society. These 'ecosystem services' (ES) include things like the provisioning of food...

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: The Open University

  • Natural Environment Valuation Online (NEVO): Web-based tools for natural capital management and investment

    While many businesses and public sector organisations understand that natural capital is an important direct and indirect source of socio-economic prosperity, quality of life, and well-being, they frequently lack the cap...

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: UNIVERSITY OF EXETER

  • Taking the debate on nature's value to the valuers [A follow on funding bid based upon the AHRC Research Network on 'Debating Nature's Value']

    This project takes the critical debate on the project of seeking to numerically capture nature's value, a debate that has been occurring in the academy and with some practitioners, fully to those responsible for doing th...

    Funded by: AHRC

    Lead research organisation: University of East Anglia

    Why might this be relevant?

    This project directly addresses the question by focusing on the economic valuation of nature and engaging with key policymakers and stakeholders.

  • Financial Rewards for Improved Biodiversity Outcomes (FRIBO)

    It is estimated that environmental mitigation costs are in the region of $1 trillion per year of which ~$120 billion is provided largely by government and charitable foundations. Private investment is relatively small, p...

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: Queen's University Belfast

  • Valuing Nature Programme Coordination Team

    The concepts behind Valuing Nature are coming of age, emerging from the Millennium Assessment, and in the UK the subsequent UK National Ecosystem Assessment and the Natural Environment & Water White Papers published ...

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: UK CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY & HYDROLOGY

    Why might this be relevant?

    This project aims to provide interdisciplinary science to put the value of nature at the core of the economy, aligning with the question's focus on quantifying and communicating benefits.

  • South West Partnership for Environment and Economic Prosperity (SWEEP)

    SWEEP brings together a unique blend of academics, businesses and policymakers to place 'natural capital' - those elements of nature producing value for people - at the heart of regional decision-making and business proc...

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: UNIVERSITY OF EXETER

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