Valuing our Life Support Systems 2019 summit: registrations open

"Natural capital is our ‘stock’ of geology, soil, air, water and all living organisms, providing fundamental life-support functions and underpinning the global economy"

Registrations are open for the Valuing our Life Support Systems 2019 summit, an independent and inclusive platform for science, policy and business communities to discuss and debate innovative natural capital solutions, which will be held on 21-22 May 2019 in London.

The event is organised by the Natural Capital Initiative, a James Hutton Institute-supported partnership which promotes the sustainable management of our natural capital. This year's summit will cover key topics including:

• New frontiers in natural capital data and methods
• Governance and institutions for implementing natural capital solutions
• Urban health and wellbeing
• Sustainable land and water management
• Sustainable marine planning

Professor Alison Hester, a senior scientist based within the James Hutton Institute's Ecological Sciences group and a member of the Secretariat of the Natural Capital Initiative, said: “Natural capital is our ‘stock’ of geology, soil, air, water and all living organisms, providing fundamental life-support functions and underpinning the global economy.

"We are delighted to welcome a great line-up of speakers for the Valuing our Life Support Systems 2019 summit. The Natural Capital Initiative’s 10th-anniversary summit offers an independent platform for people in science, policy, NGOs, businesses and local communities to discuss and debate innovative natural capital solutions." 

The 2019 speaker line-up includes Ian Boyd (Defra), Kathy Willis (University of Oxford), Ben Combes (PwC), Melanie Austen (Plymouth Marine Laboratory), Tim Sunderland (Natural England), Becca Lovell (ECEHH), Mark Rounsevell (IPBES/OPERAs), Bridget Emmett (CEH) and Mark Gough (Natural Capital Coalition).

Featuring the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) as lead sponsor, the 2019 summit builds on two influential summits in 2014 and 2009, which helped to shape natural capital thinking in the UK.

For full details including how to book, visit the Natural Capital Initiative website.