A forest, a river, a mangrove, a reef and the communities that depend upon them form connected living systems that regulate climate, sustain livelihoods, protect coastlines, preserve culture and support economic activity. Yet the economy rarely sees the whole system.
Nature's benefits while alive remain poorly recognised, while the costs of degradation are transferred to communities, governments and future generations. This is not a measurement gap but a failure in how the economy defines value.
Redefining value requires more than pricing nature. It means recognising multiple forms of value: ecological integrity, resilience, cultural meaning, community stewardship and human well-being. This panel asks what would change if Earth-system health became a core objective of economic decision-making, plus what that means for the goals, rules and incentives of the economy itself.
