BACKGROUND

The recently released landmark report The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review puts biodiversity at the core of human development and calls for transformative changes in how we think, act and measure economic success to protect and enhance our prosperity and protect the natural world. Grounded in a deep understanding of ecosystem processes and how they are affected by economic activity, the Review lays a framework for how to preserve and protect biodiversity. A comparable framework is envisaged in the National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Well-Being (NMBHWB) approved by the Indian Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC).

Part III of the Review titled ‘The Road Ahead’ includes several pathways. This conversation engages with three among them: environmental education, wealth accounting and practice of economics and finance. The conversation considers the development trajectory in these areas in the Indian context, challenges faced, explores alternatives and discusses possibilities for the future including those proposed in the NMBHWB.

PROGRAMME

Welcome: Dr. Vinod B. Mathur, National Biodiversity AuthorityInitial Remarks: Ms. B. V. Uma Devi, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India

I. SESSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Discussants:
(a) Prof. Partha Dasgupta, University of Cambridge
(b) Dr. C. V. Shimray, National Council of Educational Research and Training
(c) Dr. Erach Bharucha, Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research

II. SESSION ON WEALTH ACCOUNTS
Discussants:
(a) Prof. Partha Dasgupta, University of Cambridge
(b) Dr. Pronab Sen, International Growth Centre-India & Indian School of Public Policy
(c) Ms. P. Bhanumati, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India

III. SESSION ON PRACTICE OF ECONOMICS AND FINANCE WITH NATURE AS ITS CORE
Discussants:
(a) Prof. Partha Dasgupta, University of Cambridge
(b) Dr. Basudeb Guha-Khasnobis, UNDP Myanmar
(c) Mr. Niranjan Banodkar, YES BANK

Moderator: Prof. Nandan Nawn, TERI School of Advanced Studies & Biodiversity Collaborative

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