The Future of Biodiversity: Reconciling Nature and Economics

Why It Matters

The discussion underscores that biodiversity loss poses ecological, cultural and economic risks, making conservation a cross-cutting priority for policymakers, communities and companies. Framing biodiversity in multiple value terms aims to broaden support for actionable solutions and align business incentives with planetary stewardship.

Summary

At a Boston Climate Week panel hosted by Harvard’s Biodiversity Initiative, speakers framed biodiversity through three lenses: intrinsic value (nature’s right to exist), relational value (human belonging and cultural ties to nature), and utilitarian value (ecosystem services and economic dependence). Panelists Alex Antonelli, Rachel Gallery and Steve Polaski were assigned each perspective to explore biodiversity’s scientific, social and business implications. Organizers emphasized accelerating biodiversity loss from land-use change and climate impacts and linked those losses to risks for human well-being and economic systems. The session positioned interdisciplinary stewardship and engagement with business as central to reversing declines.

Original Description

As part of Boston Climate Week, The Harvard University Biodiversity and Planetary Stewardship Initiative (HUBS) , anchored at the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability, hosted a panel discussion and networking reception around the Future of Biodiversity.

Biodiversity underpins our planet’s life support systems, yet views differ on why biodiversity matters. On one end of the spectrum, nature matters because it supports the well-being of people, primarily through natural capital (the “utilitarian” perspective). On the other end of the spectrum, the diversity of nature has an intrinsic value, given its 3.9 billion years of evolutionary history, most of that in the absence of humans (the “nature for nature” perspective).

This panel explores these contrasting perspectives and how they can be reconciled. In doing so, we examine the roles and responsibilities humans bring to the table, whether it is protecting pristine environments, enjoying wildlife, or utilizing nature for its ecosystem services.