Healthy natural landscapes such as veld, wetlands, rivers, and estuaries across South Africa generate value to the economy amounting to at least R275 billion per year, a new study by economists at the University of Cape Town (UCT) has found. This is equivalent to at least 7% of the national gross domestic product (GDP), or three times the annual combined value generated by the … [Read more...]
New balance sheet for wealth of nations
The world’s fixation on economic growth ignores a rapid and largely irreversible depletion of natural resources, which will seriously harm future generations. This is according to a report, which on 17 June in Rio, unveiled a new indicator aimed at encouraging sustainability - the Inclusive Wealth Index (IWI). True state of the nation's wealth The IWI, which looks beyond … [Read more...]