Natural capital in a green economy – from regional insights

to a global partnership

Nordic Council of Ministers and UNEP-TEEB

Rio+20 Seminar

19 June 2012

Nordic Council of Ministers Nordic Council

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Natural capital in a green economy

- from regional insights to a global partnership -

Marianne Kettunen Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP)

Guest researcher at the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)

Event by Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) & UNEP-TEEB in the context of Rio+20

19 June 2012 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Nordic Council of Ministers Nordic Council

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An economy that: - Recognises the value of - and invests in - natural

capital

- Supports poverty alleviation

- Creates ‘green’ jobs & enhances equity

- Substitutes fossil fuels with renewable energy & low-carbon technologies

- Is resource & energy efficient

Nature is integral to all that!

(UNEP Green Economy Report)

What is a green economy?

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Paying forest owners to conserve natural capital in Mexico

Reduce deforestation

Address poverty

Improve / maintain natural water supply - aquifer recharge - improved surface water quality - reduce damage from flooding

Results of PES scheme - deforestation rate ↓ (from 1.6 %

to 0.6 %. - 18 300 ha deforestation avoided - GHG emissions ~ 3.2 mil tCO2e

avoided

Source: TEEBCases for TEEB for local and regional Policy

cc Paying blue mussel farmers for improved water quality in Lysekil, Sweden

Source: TEEB Nordic – to be published in 2012

Results - The use of mussels to clean the N

content of the municipal waste water plant saves the municipality close to 100 000 EUR / year compared to using a traditional technique © http://kodu.ut.ee/~olli/eutr/html/htmlBook_111.html

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Working with natural infrastructure in Napa Creek, U.S.

Result - xxx

Results of natural flood management - Various local benefits enhanced:

flood prevention, recreation & tourism - Costs of flooding ↓ - Insurance rates ↓ - Property values ↑

Source: TEEBCases for TEEB for local and regional Policy

cc Restoring natural infrastructure in Vihti, Finland

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Results of restoration - Water quality ↑ - Cost-effective way for managing

water quality - Also, recreation area for local

people Source: TEEB Nordic – to be published in 2012

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Investing in conservation of Tubbataha Reefs, Philippines

Results of protect area establishment - Coral cover ↑ (from 40% 1999-2003 to 50% 2004)

- Fish biomass ↑ (doubled since 2000) - Survey found a significant increase in living

standards from 2000 to 2004

Source: TEEBCases for TEEB for local and regional Policy

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Nordic business innovations: bioremediation

Microbes from Svalbard (NO) and Northern Arctic (FI) as possible tool to remove ammonia & nitrate released in the environment by mining operations. Fungi Paecilomyces variotii used commercially in Finland to turn paper mill waste in protein biomass production. Birch tar oil to form a basis for a natural herbicide in Finland, currently exploring the possibilities to develop into a commercial product.

Source: TEEB Nordic – to be published in 2012

cc Restoration of nature as vehicle for wellbeing in Nihili woodland, Tanzania

© panoramio.com

Results of restoration - Various local benefits enhanced:

fuel, fruit, timber, honey, fodder & medicines

- Time required to collect fuel wood & other resources ↓

- More time for education and productive work

- Sale of products helped pay for children’s schooling

cc Creating foundations for Green Economy/ies by natural capital accounts

WAVES countries Botswana, Colombia, Costa Rica, Madagascar, Philippines, Australia, Canada, Japan, Norway, France, the United Kingdom …

Nordic Council of Ministers Nordic Council

Marianne Kettunen mkettunen@ieep.eu

Thank you

Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) (London & Brussels)

Find us at www.ieep.eu

Follow us on twitter: IEEP_EU

See IEEP Manual of European Environmental Policy: http://www.europeanenvironmentalpolicy.eu/

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TEEB global assessments: www.teebweb.org

NEW PUBLICATION Nature & Green Economy www.teebweb.org

UPCOMING PUBLICATION by IEEP & Finnish Env. Institute (SYKE) TEEB scoping assessment for Nordic countries

Natural capital in a green economy – from regional insights

to a global partnership

Nordic Council of Ministers and UNEP-TEEB

Rio+20 Seminar

June 19, 2012

Nordic Council of Ministers Nordic Council

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