Earth Economics

Earth Economics

Founded	1998
Founder	David Batker
Type	501(3)(c)
Focus	Ecological Economics, Tools for Decision Makers
Location	Tacoma, WA, USA
Area served	Local (Washington State), National (USA), International (Asia, South America)
Product	Green Job Analysis, Ecosystem Service Valuation, Restoration and Conservation Funding Mechanism Development, and other economic analysis tools
Key people	David K. Batker, Jennifer Harrison-Cox, Maya Kocian, Tedi Dickinson, Jennifer McFadden, Rowan Schmidt
Website	http://www.eartheconomics.org

Earth Economics is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization think tank headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, United States. The organization provides robust, science-based, ecologically-sound, economic analysis, policy and tools to governments, agencies, non governmental organizations (NGOs), and grassroots organizations. This information is intended to positively transform international, national and regional economic systems and business accounting practices.

Mission Statement

Earth Economics applies new economic tools and principles to meet the challenges of the 21st century: achieving the need for just and equitable communities, healthy ecosystems, and sustainable economies.

History

In 1998 Earth Economics was formed as a side project of the Tides Center in San Francisco. Before 2006, the group was known as the “Asia Pacific Environmental Exchange”. In 2006, the organization filed for tax exempt status and became a free-standing non-profit organization, simultaneously changing its name to “Earth Economics”. Since its inception, the organization has been conducting studies and releasing reports to various clients that use economic analysis to help justify ecological restoration projects and other projects that promote sustainability.

The Basel Action Network (BAN) was formed as a project of Earth Economics in 2006. In 2009, BAN became a separate non-profit organization.

Clients

Earth Economics contracts with a variety of groups, including government and jurisdictional agencies such as Counties, flood districts and the Army Corps of Engineers, organizations, foundations, and corporations. Earth Economics provides analysis and produces reports for policy change, decision making, funding mechanisms, public discourse, litigation, or other emphasis, with the ultimate goal of shifting investment towards conservation, restoration and sustainability of natural systems. Partners include the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, [Louisiana State University]], Conservation International and others.

Program of Work

Ecosystem Service Valuations:
Working with public, private and NGO agencies, Earth Economics’ Ecosystem Service Valuation (ESV) studies quantify the value of the goods and services provided by regional ecosystems. This valuation justifies the shift of investment toward environmental preservation and/or restoration.

Economic Environmental Impact Statements:
Working with planners, policy makers and private consulting firms, Earth Economics provides justification for specific projects and scenarios based on environmental economic analysis.

Green Jobs Analysis:
Working with local and regional economists, agencies, businesses and jurisdictions, Earth Economics analyzes the jobs that will be created, maintained, or lost by doing or not doing a project.

Accounting and Management Strategies:
Working with public utilities, businesses, large land owners and managers, Earth Economics identifies, and helps clients adopt, new management approaches that value ecosystem services in addition to built infrastructure and raw materials.

Scenario Mapping and Modeling:
Working with leading systems modelers, ecologists and hydrologists, Earth Economics analyzes ecosystem services such as freshwater provisioning, carbon sequestration, flood protection, biodiversity and hurricane protection. This information is used to provide current and future maps showing ecosystem services provisioning, beneficiaries and damage under different planning scenarios.

Funding Mechanisms for Conservation and Restoration:
Working with local and state jurisdictions, Earth Economics applies innovative approaches to fund critical natural infrastructure and conservation work.

Educational Outreach:
Working with philanthropic organizations, environmental and policy NGOs, schools and public agencies, Earth Economics conducts workshops, lectures and media events to increase awareness about ecological economics.

Conversion of Built Capital to Sustainable Function:
Working with the electronic recycling industry, paper mills and other industries, Earth Economics helps catalyze the shift from unsustainable to sustainable technology and industrial processes.

Further Valuation Studies:
Working with academics from around the world, Earth Economics is continually updating their Benefit Value Transfer tool and ESV Study Database to provide up-to-date appraisals.

Accomplishments

Earth Economics jobs study was “a critical component” to securing federal funding for Walla Walla Community College expansion.

See Also

• Ecological Economics
• Environmental Ethics
• Deep Ecology
• Ecological values of mangrove
• Environmental economics
• Environmental ethics
• Green accounting
• Natural capital
• Natural resource economics
• Sustainability
• Steady state economics