How much do we value nature – and how does that shape our future?

We're pleased to share a new Opinion by the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE), co-authored by Prof. Nikola Biller-Andorno: "Valuing Nature: Implications for EU Governance".

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁:
How we conceptualize and value nature directly shapes which ecological harms are treated as acceptable, which protections are deemed necessary, and which trade-offs are considered justified in policymaking. This isn't an abstract debate — it has concrete consequences for EU law and policy.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁:
Amid geopolitical tension, economic pressure, and industrial competition, the EGE warns against treating ecological sustainability as a secondary concern. On the contrary: it's a precondition for resilience, prosperity, health, security, and democratic legitimacy — not something to be deprioritised when times get tough.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲:
Human societies are embedded within ecological systems, not external to them. Nature can't simply be treated as a substitutable resource or service provider. The Opinion calls for recognising multiple, complementary ways of valuing nature — economic, but also legal, ethical, and cultural.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:
🔹 Strengthen legal and institutional representation of ecological concerns — including for non-human nature
🔹 Use economic valuation tools only within clear ethical boundaries
🔹 Establish a legally binding right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment in the EU
🔹 Ensure meaningful public participation and coherence between the EU's internal commitments and external action

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿:
The Opinion addresses EU policymakers, but is equally relevant to anyone interested in how environmental protection, economic development, and intergenerational justice can be brought together.

Published under the Ethics Advice Mechanism (EThAM), which provides independent ethical guidance to the European Commission at the intersection of science, technology, and policy.