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Ecosystem Services

A collection of services provided by the Earth’s ecosystem that are usually not a part of economic analyses but that are indispensable for any human endeavors. These include: clean air and water, plant pollination, climate regulation, soil regeneration, ozone protection, shade and shelter, etc.

These services offer incalculable benefits to markets, economies, and societies but neoclassical economics do not account for these benefits (or the costs to replicate them through human means) in economic measures or calculations. Therefore, they go un-valued, creating false economic effects, known as externalities and lead to faulty economic planning and decisions. Some Ecological Economic theories, however, strive to correct these deficiencies for more sophisticated and sustainable economic planning.

Explore Other SDG Vocabulary

E-waste

E-waste

Also known as electronic waste or high-tech trash, it is considered hazardous waste. E-waste contains harmful metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury. When these elements are...

Earth Overshoot Day

Earth Overshoot Day

Earth Overshoot Day is the day each calendar year when the human demand, the natural resources we consume and the carbon dioxide emissions we create, exceeds the planet’s ability t...

Eco-effectiveness

Eco-effectiveness

The central strategy in the cradle-to-cradle development method seeks to create industrial systems that emulate healthy natural systems. The central principle of eco-effectiveness...