Dasgupta Review: A positive step for societal change
Published on February 10, 2021Stephanie Wray, Director of RSK Biocensus and its subsidiary Nature Positive, comments on the recently published Dasgupta Review.
It was fantastic to see the Dasgupta Review published on 2 February and, at the launch at the Royal Society, recognition from both the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and Environment Minister, George Eustice, that transformative societal change is essential.
Led by Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta (Frank Ramsey Professor Emeritus, University of Cambridge) and commissioned in 2019 by HM Treasury, the Dasgupta Review is an independent, global review on the economics of biodiversity. It has been supported by an Advisory Panel drawn from public policy, science, economics, finance and business and, as noted on the government website, โcalls for changes in how we think, act and measure economic success to protect and enhance our prosperity and the natural world. Grounded in a deep understanding of ecosystem processes and how they are affected by economic activity, the new framework presented by the Review sets out how we should account for nature in economics and decision-making.โ
This is certainly a landmark report putting science and economics at the heart of how we consider nature in society. It points out that since the value of the goods and services provided by nature are open to all at no economic cost, there is a huge market distortion that has led us to invest in produced capital and to underinvest in natural capital. This simple market failure has led to wider institutional failures. Essentially, governments around the world pay more for people to destroy nature than they do to preserve it and have prioritised unsustainable economic activities.ย Globally, US$ 4-6 trillion is spent on subsidies that damage nature, but there are no institutional arrangements to protect global public goods, such as the oceans or rainforests.
For example, the use of the oceans is currently free – you can put a wind turbine in it, sail around it, and release effluent into it. You do not pay for an act that causes damage and affects a resource that we all rely on. And this report is saying that we should. If we pay to use the oceans, and to exploit other common goods, that payment could go towards preserving and restoring these ecosystems. For too long, the global economy and the natural environment have been seen as opposite ends of the spectrum, but they are not. They are inseparably intertwined, and the government wants to spearhead global leadership on this issue. This could lead to major change in national and international policy.
The Stern Report on the Economics of Climate Change, published in 2006, was indeed a turning point in our journey to net zero. Following on from that, legally binding targets on climate have begun to resolve externalities, provide transparency and drive investment. We now have a target to reach net zero that seems at least potentially achievable.
I am hopeful that binding international 2030 targets for habitats and species will do the same for nature, which underpins climate, and everything else we rely on.
You can read the Dasgupta Reviewโs report in full at gov.uk.
๐ณ๏ธโ๐ RSK is proud to stand alongside members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community.
๐ People deserve to be their authentic selves and love freely without fear.
You can read Graeme and Abigail's full stories next week in RSK insights. Keep an eye on our social media for more information.
#rskfamily #pride #pridemonth #loveislove #lgbtq
๐ธ #selfiesonsite ๐คณ
Ryan Dunderdale, Senior Surveyor at Central Alliance, providing technical support and on-site training to datum plate install teams down in Bristol.
Want to join our team? View our latest opportunities ๐ www.rskgroup.com/careers
#RSKgroup #behindthescenes #meettheteam #RSKfamily #RSKonsite #engineering #construction
๐ In the June edition of our #employeespotlight, we spoke with with Rosie Pearce at Stephenson Halliday and Carmen Snowdon at WRc Group to find out about their recent achievements ๐
๐ Congratulations to you both!
Click the link in our bio to find out more!
#rskfamily #employeeapprecitation #team #landscapeinstitute #instituteofwater #architecture
"If you donโt feel valued, represented and respected in your workplace, then inevitably your #wellbeing will suffer.โ
๐ In our latest edition of #ADayInTheLife, we spoke with Ellen Lapworth-Maisey, Wellbeing, #Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at RSK โ a fascinating position that helps to create an inclusive and empowering #culture for all RSK staff.
Click the link in bio to learn more!
#RSKGroup #RSKfamily #diversity #inclusion #mentalhealth
๐ธ #selfiesonsite ๐คณ
Some pictures of the Envireau Water staff on site.
Want to join our team? View our latest opportunities ๐ www.rskgroup.com/careers
#RSKgroup #behindthescenes #meettheteam #RSKfamily #RSKonsite #waterindustry #construction
๐ถ ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐
#RSKSteps came to an end on Tuesday 31 May after a month of stepping adventures.
๐๐ป ๐ป๐๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐:
โ๏ธ1449 participants
โ๏ธ332,268,416 steps
โ๏ธยฃ1500 raised for our chosen charity, MIND!
Read more about this fantastic challenge in our bio!
#RSKGroup #RSKfamily #wellbeing #health #mentalhealth #walking
#RSKEvents
๐ Join Dirk Van Look and Chris Hughes on our webinar all about #PFAS โ perfluoroalkyl substances, which are both human-made and known to be harmful to humans.
๐ก We will showcase real-life examples to demonstrate how RSK is responding and developing capabilities to assess these emerging #contaminants.
Find out more and register now in our bio!
#RSKGroup #RSKfamily #PFAScontaminants #foreverchemicals #chemicals
๐ In light of #PrideMonth, we are sharing information about how to become a better ally. #Pride offers a sense of solidarity and a platform for expression.
Keep an eye out for our upcoming posts!
#RSKGroup #rskfamily #LGBT #LGBTQ+ #inclusion #diversity #LGBTally #Pride2022
๐ข RSK is pleased to announce it has further expanded its presence in Ireland by acquiring one of the most reputable tree care companies in the country.
๐ณ Dermot Casey Tree Care was founded in the 1970s by Managing Director Dermot Casey and is one of the most highly regarded tree surgery companies in Ireland, with more than 50 years of experience.
Find out more in our bio!
#RSKGroup #RSKfamily #treecare #landscape #treesurgery #landscaping #nature