The research led by the University of East Anglia emphasizes the importance of recognizing and respecting the different ways in which nature is valued in order to make better environmental decisions. Despite widespread support for sustainable development goals, there are significant disagreements on how to achieve these goals, leading to conflicts and inaction. The study, published in the journal One Earth, discusses four competing approaches for resolving environmental crises: Nature Protection, Green Economy, Earth Stewardship and Biocultural Diversity, and Degrowth and Post-growth.
One of the key findings of the research is the clear differences in how these approaches value nature. Nature Protection emphasizes the intrinsic value of nature, while Green Economy focuses on the instrumental values of nature for society. Earth Stewardship and Biocultural Diversity recognize and stress relational values of nature, while Degrowth prioritizes sufficiency and redistribution. These differing values play a crucial role in shaping environmental strategies and contribute to the difficulty in reaching compromises between them.
Lead author Adrian Martin highlights the challenge of building a unified movement to address climate and biodiversity crises when different pathways are not receptive to each other’s ideas. However, understanding the basis for disagreement can help in moving towards a more inclusive and transformative form of environmentalism. The paper suggests ways to make plural values of nature visible and usable for decision-making, reforming institutions to embed these values, and addressing power imbalances that favor the green economy pathway.
The study underscores the role of values in shaping perspectives on sustainability and justice, providing insight into why the environmental movement is fragmented. By promoting transparency about values and respecting the diversity of ways in which nature is valued, the researchers hope to support more inclusive and effective environmental decision-making. Ultimately, the goal is to facilitate greater mutual understanding and collaboration among different approaches to valuing nature in order to achieve a sustainable and just future for all.
