Download Conference Description Biodiversity3

THE DITCHLEY FOUNDATION
Can the earth still sustain us? Biodiversity, resources and pollution
16-18 June 2016
Chair: Dr Tony Juniper
The question of the viability and sustainability of humanity’s current lifestyles and policies has presented itself with
increasing urgency in recent years. Much of this has focussed on the issue of climate change, but concerns also
go much wider, and raise fundamental questions about our use of natural resources, and the pressure we are
putting on the planet’s ecological balances. One way of expressing this has been to talk of the Anthropocene Age,
in other words the first long-term cycle in which the basic drivers of change are man-made, not natural. Another
has been the concept of planetary boundaries, seen as tipping points in areas such as climate, oceans, fresh
water, air quality and chemical pollution – we are seen as having already exceeded several of these boundaries.
A third concept is that of ‘natural capital’, the ability of naturally occurring resources such as forests, oceans or
rivers to supply common goods on a constant basis, as long as allowed to do so. This is linked to attempts to
measure the value of such resources, and price them in to human activity which uses/affects them.
Common to all these concepts are the ideas of finite earth resources which we are squandering with no thought
for the future, and natural environmental balances which we are in danger of upsetting in irreversible ways.
Exacerbating the problems are continuing rapid population growth in some parts of the world, with all that implies
for increasing resource demand; and the continuing expansion of the global middle class, with all that means for
demand for protein, and for use of scarce materials and energy to meet rising consumer demand. In addition, our
linear economy encourages the use and disposal of products with high wastage (for example, it is estimated that
one third of all food produced is wasted), instead of a circular economy, where re-use and recycling are the norm.
Current manifestations include the risk that some important and currently non-replaceable resources such as
phosphorus will run out before acceptable alternatives can be developed; renewable natural resources, such as
the world's forests, water sources or wild capture fisheries, being exploited faster than they can be replenished;
the number of species thought to have been made extinct or currently facing extinction (as much as 30-40% of all
currently known species, according to some estimates); the parallel threat to biodiversity from rapid urbanisation,
intensive agriculture, invasive species etc.; and chemical and other pollution affecting air and especially water
quality, with the oceans particularly vulnerable to the accumulation of plastic (e.g. the so-called Great Pacific
Garbage Patch, and the ingestion of small plastic particles by ocean birds, fish and animals).
Recent research has focussed on the extent to which economic activity is dependent on the continued viability of
these natural resources and the ecosystem on which they depend, and on how much environmental externalities,
such as air or water pollution, are costing governments and businesses. The assessments are complex, but the
overwhelming message is that unless we halt or dramatically slow the pace of exploitation of key resources, longterm economic prospects are threatened. This is particularly true in countries that are heavily dependent on
natural resources for GDP growth. Climate change can only increase such risks.
The validity and urgency of some of these fears are not universally accepted. The planetary boundaries concept
has been criticised as too broad and unscientific. The recent falls in commodity prices as global demand has
slowed have cast doubt on the idea of ever-rising prices on the back of ever-increasing demand, and many
natural resources just running out. In any case we are getting better at using (and reusing) natural resources with
care, and could go much further down this track. Some see the earth and the oceans as more resilient than often
supposed, and are sceptical both of the view that many species are under imminent threat, and the fear that some
fundamental balance will be upset if a few species disappear. Some argue that what is lost can somehow be
replaced through advanced technology. Popular opinion appears uncertain about the seriousness of what is
happening, but also fearful that we are not looking after the world as we should and are undermining our own
children’s futures.
This conference will aim to bring together experts and practitioners from across the world, including business and
finance, to discuss the impact of what is happening now, and what can realistically be done to mitigate the risks.