WFC Looking for New Economic Vision

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World Future Council calls for new economic vision

Commenting on the alarming Global Biodiversity Report launched by the United Nations in Nairobi today, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Founding Councilor of the World Future Council (WFC) and Director of the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology, said: „Biodiversity is the real capital of the poor in the South. Destruction of biodiversity is at the root of hunger and poverty.“

The United Nations report warns that we „continue to lose biodiversity at a rate never seen before in history.“ According to the UN, the provision of fresh water, food, fibre and medicine as well as the filtration of pollutants and the pollination of crops are among those ecosystem services potentially threatened by decline and changes in biodiversity.

Ashok Khosla, WFC Founding Councillor and President of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) commented: “Despite the formal commitment of governments to conserve biodiversity, very little in their policies, budgets or even indicators of economic, social and human well-being reflects this fundamental importance. Much of the actual action on the ground to preserve biodiversity must be taken by farmers, industrialists and ordinary citizens but without governments giving the highest priority to saving this critical resource, it will inexorably be lost – and with it the hope for a better future for all.”

WFC Founder Jakob von Uexkull added: “Our economic activities cause irreversible damage to the life support systems of our planet. Business as usual is no longer possible. We need a new economic system which values the ecosystem services provided by biodiversity to humanity and respects them as foundation of our life.”

World Future Council

The World Future Council brings the interests of future generations to the centre of policy making. Its up to 50 eminent members from around the globe have already successfully promoted change. The Council addresses challenges to our common future and provides decision-makers with effective policy solutions. In-depth research underpins advocacy work for international agreements, regional policy frameworks and national lawmaking and thus produces practical and tangible results. The World Future Council is registered as a charitable foundation in Hamburg, Germany.

Contacts for further information:       

Alexandra Wandel, Biodiversity Expert, World Future Council, +49 172 748 39 53, alexandra.wandel@worldfuturecouncil.org

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