Biodiversity policy beyond economic growth

Area of Science:

• Ecology and Environmental Science
• Environmental Policy and Economics

Background:

• Growing evidence links economic growth to increased resource consumption and emissions, exacerbating biodiversity loss.
• International policies often promote economic growth despite its negative environmental impacts.
• Resource efficiency improvements have not yet led to absolute reductions in global resource use or pollution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically examine the contradiction between advocating economic growth and the need for biodiversity conservation.
• To explore socioeconomic alternatives to economic growth that can halt biodiversity decline.
• To propose policy recommendations for decoupling prosperity from environmental degradation.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized existing evidence on the relationship between economic growth and biodiversity loss.
• Reviewed international biodiversity and sustainability policies.
• Drew upon literature concerning alternatives to economic growth.

Main Results:

• Economic growth is a significant driver of biodiversity loss.
• Current policies inadequately address how to decouple economic growth from biodiversity loss.
• There is a need to move beyond the growth paradigm to ensure biodiversity conservation.

Conclusions:

• Policies must acknowledge the inherent conflict between economic growth and biodiversity conservation.
• Exploring socioeconomic trajectories beyond economic growth is crucial for future biodiversity scenarios.
• Implementing top-down and bottom-up governance can facilitate a transition to a post-growth economy that enhances prosperity.