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How to bring nature into economics | Ranjit Barthakur | TEDxRoyalGlobalUniversity
TEDx Talksยท 2025-10-15 16:03
Core Argument - The speaker advocates for recognizing the intrinsic value of nature beyond monetary terms, emphasizing the interdependence between nature and economics, termed "natureomics" [7][9][10] - The speaker highlights the need to shift from solely valuing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to incorporating a "green development index" or "green domestic product" that accounts for the value of nature [7][8] - The speaker stresses the importance of listening to and learning from local communities and indigenous people in order to effectively preserve nature [5][9] Examples and Studies - A study in Walmart showed that butterflies contribute to 23% of Walmart's value through pollination of apples, flowers, fruits, and nuts, illustrating the economic significance of biodiversity [16] - Bees and butterflies contribute to 35% of turnover in the food section, and up to 60% in some cases, further emphasizing the economic value of pollinators [17] - The speaker mentions the concept of "natural wealth of nations" and the need to value nature to incorporate it into economic models [21] Initiatives and Programs - The speaker introduced the subject "natureomics" to promote the interdependence between nature and economics [9][10] - The speaker is involved in running a forum simultaneously in multiple universities (IIT, Royal Global, Cotton University, and Guwahati University) to promote nature-related discussions [24] - The speaker mentions a program called "project karma yogi" that trains Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, with the hope of including "natureomics" as a subject [26][27] Call to Action - The speaker encourages valuing nature and integrating it into economic considerations [7][8] - The speaker promotes recognizing and rewarding individuals who contribute to preserving nature, such as the professor who discovered 120 fish species in Manipur [11][12] - The speaker encourages students to seek knowledge and not be afraid to challenge existing economic models [20]