A « Collectively Recognized Ecological Debt » Based on a Measure of the Cost of Ecosystem Degradation

A « collectively recognized ecological debt » based on a measure of the cost of ecosystem degradation

Yann Kervinio [email protected] Ministry for an ecological and solidary transition (MTES/CGDD/SEEIDD)

Expert meeting on ecosystem valuation in the context of natural capital accounting April, 24th-26th, 2018 A policy framework for integrated ecosystem management

2 A policy framework Y C I

Set of L Implementation measures O P decides

Politically legitimate body

3 A policy framework Y C I

Set of L Implementation measures O P decides

Politically legitimate body

4 A policy framework Y C I

Efficient set of L Implementation measures O P decides

Benefits Costs N O Politically I ES benefits Financial T legitimate A body Economic U Social L A V

5 A policy framework Y C I

Efficient set of L Implementation measures O P decides

Motives Costs N O Politically I ES benefits Financial T legitimate A body Intrinsic values Economic U Ecological boundaries Social L A V

Example the EU 2050 vision in the EU biodiversity strategy for 2011-2020

6 A policy framework Y C I

Environmental Efficient set of L Implementation standards measures O P

decides

Motives Costs N O Politically I ES benefits Financial T legitimate A body Intrinsic values Economic U Ecological boundaries Social L A V

Examples GHG emission target ; Environmental targets ; No net loss

7 A policy framework Y C I

Environmental Efficient set of L Implementation standards measures O P G N

Motives Costs N I O Politically I Expenditures R ES benefits Financial T Impacts O legitimate A T U body Intrinsic values Economic Socioeconomic I L Ecological boundaries Social Biophysical N A O V M

8 A policy framework Y C I

Environmental Efficient set of L Implementation standards measures O P G N

Motives Costs N I O Politically I Expenditures R ES benefits Financial T Impacts O legitimate A T U body Intrinsic values Economic Socioeconomic I L Ecological boundaries Social Biophysical N A O V M

Ecosystem accounts G N I

Extent T N

Condition U

Economic O ES uses C C

Asset values A

9 A policy framework Y C I

Environmental Efficient set of L Implementation standards measures O P G N

Motives Costs N I O Politically I Expenditures R ES benefits Financial T Impacts O legitimate A T U body Intrinsic values Economic Socioeconomic I L Ecological boundaries Social Biophysical N A O V M

Ecosystem accounts G Expenditures N I

Extent T N

Condition U

Economic O ES uses C C

Asset values A

10 A policy framework Y C I

Environmental Efficient set of L Implementation standards measures O P G N

Motives Costs N I O Politically I Expenditures R ES benefits Financial T Impacts O legitimate A T U body Intrinsic values Economic Socioeconomic I L Ecological boundaries Social Biophysical N A O V M

Ecosystem accounts Collective willingness G Expenditures N to pay - I Extent T Unpaid ecological costs N

Condition U

Economic O ES uses C C

Asset values A

11 A policy framework Y C I

Environmental Efficient set of L Implementation standards measures O P G N

Motives Costs N I O Politically I Expenditures R ES benefits Financial T Impacts O legitimate A T U body Intrinsic values Economic Socioeconomic I L Ecological boundaries Social Biophysical N A O V M

Ecosystem accounts Collective willingness G Expenditures N to pay - I Extent T Unpaid ecological costs N

Condition U

Economic O ES uses C a « collectively C Asset values recognized ecological A debt » under some conditions 12 Interests of the process Practical Y C I

Environmental Efficient set of L Implementation standards measures O P G N

Motives Costs N

Calls for operational I O Politically I Expenditures R standards ES benefits Financial T Impacts O legitimate Emphasises action A T U body Intrinsic values Economic Socioeconomic I L Ecological boundaries Social Biophysical N A O V M

Ecosystem accounts Collective willingness G Expenditures N to pay - I Extent T Unpaid ecological costs N

Condition U

Economic O ES uses C C

Asset values A

13 Interests of the process Credibility Y C I

Environmental Efficient set of L Implementation standards measures O P

Strengten the G Calls for specific N identification of

Motives Costs N I O Politically I Expenditures standards measures R ES benefits Financial T Impacts O legitimate A T U body Intrinsic values Economic Socioeconomic I L Ecological boundaries Social Biophysical N A O V M Strengthen the Ecosystem accounts Collective willingness cost valuation G Expenditures N to pay - I Extent methods T Unpaid ecological costs N

Condition U

Economic O ES uses C C

Asset values A

14 Interests of the outcome Legitimacy Y C I

Environmental Efficient set of L Implementation standards measures O P

Revealed and refective G N

Motives Costscollective preferences N I O Politically I Expenditures R ES benefits Financial T Impacts O legitimate A T U body Intrinsic values Economic Socioeconomic I L Ecological boundaries Social Biophysical N A O V M

Ecosystem accounts CollectiveBroad willingness value basis G Expenditures N to finance - I Extent T Unpaid ecological costs N

Condition U

Economic O ES uses C C

Asset values A

15 Interests of the outcome Policy relevance Y C I

Environmental Efficient set of L Implementation standards measures O P G N

Motives Costs N I O Politically I Expenditures R ES benefits Financial T Impacts O legitimate A T U body Intrinsic values Economic Socioeconomic I Information about budgetary L Ecological boundaries Social Biophysical N A O

requirements V M

Ecosystem accounts Collective willingness G Expenditures N to pay - I Extent T Unpaid ecological costs N

Condition U

Economic O ES uses C C

Asset values An aggregate indicator A of the cost of ecosystem degradation consistent with the SNA 16 Take-home message

1) Environnemental standards have considerably been developed in the EU since the 90’s ;

2) This, and the production of associated knowledge on costs, makes the development of complementary accounts a realistic endeavour;

3) Developing such accounts is a valuable process able to deliver meaningful and legitimate information to policymakers and to foster the transition to sustainable societies.

17 Thank you for your attention Y C I

Environmental Efficient set of L Implementation standards measures O P G N

Motives Costs N I O Politically I Expenditures R ES benefits Financial T Impacts O legitimate A T U body Intrinsic values Economic Socioeconomic I L Ecological boundaries Social Biophysical N A O V M

Ecosystem accounts Collective willingness G Expenditures N to pay - I Extent T Unpaid ecological costs N

Condition U

Economic O ES uses C C

Asset values A

18 Next annual seminar October 2018, 4th in Paris

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19 Useful references . Chevassus-au-Louis et al, 2009. An economic approach to biodiversity and ecosystem services. Contribution to public decision-making, Centre d’analyse stratégique, collection Rapport et documents. Both available in English and French. . Devaux, 2015. Unpaid ecological costs : initial attempts to estimate the increase in the ecological debt for the natural assets of « climate », « air » and « continental aquatic environements ». in CGDD (ed.) Nature and the Wealth of Nations – la Revue du CGDD, décembre 2015, pp. 85-92 ; both available in English or in French . EU biodiversity strategy ; available in English or French . EU marine strategy framework directive ; available in English or French . Farmer, M.C. and Randall, A. (1998) “The Rationality of a Safe Minimum Standard”, Land Economics, 74: 287–302. . Stiglitz, Sen and Fitoussi, 2009. Rapport de la Commission sur la mesure des performances économiques et du progrès social. Available in English or French . United Nations Statistical Division, 2013. System of Environmental-Economic Accounting: Experimental Ecosystem Accounting, Official publication. Available in English . Vanoli, 2015. National accounting and consideration of the Natural heritage. in CGDD (ed.) Nature and the Wealth of Nations – la Revue du CGDD, décembre 2015, pp. 75-84 ; both available in English or in French.