Thread by @greenfinanceobs

Institutional capture via language: what do UNDP, ECB, OECD, EU Commission & an environmentally minded MEP have in common? They all endorsed consciously or not a contested reconceptualisation of #nature & human life at last week' #beyondgrowth event beyond-growth-2023.eu/lecture/focus-…… 1/11

@spietikainen started the panel by stating: "let's assume (..) that we all agree already that GDP is flawed and not the right measure and that we need a new metering system that includes the planetary boundaries, the #naturalcapital and the social wellbeing of humans." 2/11

While we know Sirpa and do not doubt her intentions, the reference to #naturalcapital - a simplistic and contested reconceptualisation of #nature - is extremely problematic and shows the level of linguistic capture on the issue of conservation. 3/11

For many, the term has become interchangeable with biodiversity protection without realising that they are absolutely not the same. 4/11

The next speaker @pedrotconceicao from UNDP also highlighted natural capital, the contested Dasgupta Review and World Bank's Inclusive Wealth framework among the list of beyond gdp indicators. 5/11

Dr Romina Boarini director of the OECD WISE Centre went on to promote natural and human and social capital. 6/11

European Commission @DrollPeter followed, including the concepts of natural, human and social capital, as part of the Commission's future beyond GDP indicators.
ECB @FrankElderson mentioned "ecosystems services" and SEEA-EA, UN's accounting framework for #naturalcapital. 7/11

As asked by the brilliant next panelist @CatriceJany from University of Lille: "which language should we speak when elaborating these new indicators? (...) Should monetary valuation be extended to non market assets?" 8/11

@CatriceJany went on: "indicators are always political objects, they always embark with them visions of what is good." "The production of alternative indicators has become a real battlefield."
We could not agree more, hence the crucial importance of using the right words.. 9/11

...and not debunked neoliberal concepts such as #naturalcapital, unless you support their underlying vision of a world where conservation must be privatized & made profitable and investable at the cost of its environmental integrity, in order to protect EU's way of life. 10/11

If you want to go further, we published this analysis of the Dasgupta review, as well as a short policy brief (in French) on post growth indicators. 11/11 greenfinanceobservatory.org/wp-content/upl…… greenfinanceobservatory.org/wp-content/upl…