Blue Planet Prize Story

Click above figures to view details

Forests and rivers will be around forever if we use them wisely. Rain drops become a stream of water, which becomes a great river, which flows into the ocean. Water in the ocean becomes vapor, which then becomes rain. If we do not interrupt this flow, we will have water forever. After we cut trees, trees will grow again. We call this the regenerative power of nature. However, the regenerative power of nature is limited. If the regenerative power of nature cannot keep pace with the speed that we consume natural resources, our natural resources will not be able to regenerate.

Humankind has used more natural resources than ever before during the 100 years of the 20th century, and we have contaminated the earth as well. If we continue in this direction, nature will be too damaged to regenerate itself.

Professor Dasgupta started research on nature in the 1970s, and talked about how we should act to preserve our world for future generations. We need to protect nature not only because it is beautiful, but because it is essential for all living things. Can you imagine life without nature, without water and air?

Economics is a social science that looks at what determines wealth and happiness.
Over much of its history, however, economics has not seen nature as an important factor. Then one day, Professor Dasgupta received a letter from the head of a botanical garden who asked, "Why don't people talk about the natural environment when they talk about the economics of the country? Is it because economists do not have the capacity to understand the effect the natural environment has on our standard of living?"

Professor Dasgupta decided to change this. He conducted research on the relationship between humankind and nature to clarify what nature contributed to wealth and happiness, he came to see nature as the center of economics.

Can't we preserve the environment while we help poor countries out of their poverty?

In order to investigate humankind's relationship with nature, Professor Dasgupta conducted research on the lifestyles of people who lived in poor countries rather than in rich countries, especially small farming villages, because it is these people who have a direct relationship with nature. This is seen in their sharing of water, fish, and wood with others in the village.

In this research, he found a correlation between nature and poverty. The poor depend on natural resources for their day-to-day lives, and so any deterioration of the natural environment decreases their quality of life. If the dessert expands and oases dry up, for example, or too many trees are cut down, the poor people in the area are forced to go farther to find water and wood, which makes their life more difficult.

Some say that the poor need to prioritize development to earn money, and that once they reach a certain standard of living, they will have the luxury of considering the natural environment. In other words, they do not have to care about cutting too many trees or industrial waste from factories as long as they can earn money and enjoy an affluent life. Professor Dasgupta disagrees with this, thinking that environmental preservation is the solution to the problems of poverty.

Professor Dasgupta believed it was unnatural for economics to ignore the natural environment when considering poverty and development, and to ignore poverty when considering the natural environment. He believed that we needed to consider both natural environment and the people living in it because they are closely related. It is because of this belief that Professor Dasgupta worked to apply economics to the Environment and Poverty, something that no one had done before.

3.Path to Sustainable Development