The Nature of Value
and The Value of Nature

Pavan Sukhdev



A study was begun a couple of years ago which is now called TEEB: The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity. In its interim report, published in May [2008], one of its conclusions was that the ongoing loss of forests represents a loss of utility and services to humanity of the order of two to four and half trillion dollars. That’s two to four and a half million, million dollars every year! And this loss has been going on every year for many years. This compares rather significantly with the loss of one and half to two trillion dollars, which is the system loss of financial capital as a result of what is in fact the biggest financial crisis the world has ever seen.

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Pavan Sukhdev is Managing Director of Global Markets, Deutsche Bank India, Study Leader, G8 + 5 global study on the Economics of Ecosystem Degradation and Biodiversity Loss, and Head of UNEP’s Green Economy Initiative, a major project demonstrating that the greening of economies is a new engine for growth, employment and the reduction of poverty.

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