Blue Planet Prize Current Year Laureates

Born on September 14, 1950, in the United States
Ecological Economics at the Institute for Global Prosperity, University College London

In a groundbreaking 1997 paper, Professor Costanza and colleagues demonstrated, for the first time, that the ecosystem services provided by nature to humans far exceed the economic value of the world's GDP at that time. This work brought global attention to the previously understated importance of ecosystem services. As a co-founder of ecological economics, a new field of study that recognizes that the economy is embedded in society and a finite biosphere, Professor Costanza actively advocates for an ecologically sustainable, wellbeing society.

Statement from Professor Robert Costanza upon Notification of Selection

It is indeed a great honor and privilege to be named the winner of the 2024 Blue Planet Prize. The Asahi Glass Foundation has supported the work of many extraordinary individuals and groups, including many of my colleagues, in our shared quest to create a better world and I am overjoyed to join their ranks.

My work focuses on understanding our planet as an integrated, complex system. It recognizes that the economy is embedded in society and the rest of nature, and it cannot be understood or managed effectively without this integrated perspective. That is what the transdisciplinary field of ecological economics, which I helped to create, has been about. In particular, I have worked on understanding, modelling, and valuing natural capital and the ecosystem services it provides and have shown that their contributions to sustainable human wellbeing far exceeds the contributions of marketed goods and services as measured by GDP. I have also worked to understand and measure the integrated wellbeing of humans and the rest of nature and to create a shared vision of a world that can provide sustainable wellbeing and motivate the changes needed to get there.

Being awarded the Blue Planet Prize will enable me to continue my work in collaboration with the many people around the world who all strive for a better, more fair, prosperous, and sustainable future.

Established on April 21, 2012, IPBES secretariat: Bonn (Germany)

IPBES is the leading global authority on the state of knowledge and science about biodiversity, ecosystem services and nature's contributions to people. Their landmark Reports facilitate better science-informed policy and action across scales, sectors, and knowledge systems. As growing numbers of companies also start to evaluate, disclose and improve their impact on the environment, businesses are also using the IPBES Reports to help shape their corporate sustainability strategies and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) activities.

Statement from IPBES upon Notification of Selection

We are very honoured by the selection of IPBES as one of the winners of the 2024 Blue Planet Prize. All credit for this prestigious award goes to our thousands of leading scientists and knowledge-holders, from all parts of the world, who so generously volunteer their expertise, time, and enthusiasm to our work. We also thank our 146 member States - for their unflagging support, and the broader IPBES stakeholder community, whose engagement remains so crucial to the success of our mission.

This accolade is global recognition of the importance of safeguarding and restoring biodiversity and nature's contributions to people - through better science, evidence, and options for action. We offer our deep gratitude to the Asahi Glass Foundation for this honour and for their support to our efforts. Inspired by this distinction, we will continue our efforts to strengthen science and policy for people and nature.