Robert Costanza facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Costanza
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| Born | September 14, 1950 (age 74) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Nationality |  United States |
| Alma mater | University of Florida |
| Known for | Founder of International Society for Ecological Economics & Ecological Economics journal, Founding Editor-in-Chief of The Solutions Journal |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Ecological Economics Sustainability Systems Ecology |
| Institutions | The Australian National University Portland State University University of Vermont University of Maryland Louisiana State University |
| Doctoral advisor | H.T. Odum |
Robert Costanza, born on September 14, 1950, is an American and Australian scientist. He is a professor at the UCL Institute for Global Prosperity, University College London. He is known for his important work in a field called ecological economics. This field studies how nature and the economy are connected. He helps us understand how valuable nature's services are to people.
About Robert Costanza
Robert Costanza has taught at many different universities. These include the Australian National University and Portland State University. He was also a professor at the University of Vermont. There, he directed the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics. Before that, he worked at the University of Maryland.
He helped start the International Society for Ecological Economics. This group brings together scientists who study nature and the economy. He was also the first editor of their main magazine, Ecological Economics. He also helped create Solutions, a magazine that shares ideas for a better future.
Why Nature is Important
One of Robert Costanza's most famous ideas is about the value of ecosystem services. Ecosystem services are all the good things nature does for us. Think about clean air, fresh water, and healthy soil for growing food. These are all services that nature provides for free!
In 1997, he and other scientists wrote a very important article. It showed how much these natural services are worth in money. They estimated that nature's services are worth trillions of dollars every year. This helped many people realize how important it is to protect our planet.
He believes that we need to manage our planet's resources carefully. This is called stewardship. He thinks we should treat nature like a valuable asset that belongs to everyone. This way, we can make sure there's enough for future generations.
Key Ideas and Books
Robert Costanza has written many books and articles. These works explain his ideas about how to create a sustainable world. A sustainable world is one where we can meet our needs today without harming the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Some of his books include:
- Ecological Economics: The Science and Management of Sustainability (1991)
- An Introduction to Ecological Economics (1997, 2014)
- Creating A Sustainable and Desirable Future: Insights from 45 Global Thought Leaders (2014)
- Sustainable Wellbeing Futures: a research and action agenda for Ecological Economics (2020)
These books explore how we can live in a way that is good for both people and the planet. He encourages us to think about our well-being, not just how much money we make.
See also
In Spanish: Robert Costanza para niños
- Club of Rome
- Balaton Group
