Learning, Natural Capital and Sustainable Development: Options for an Uncertain World

"Learning, Natural Capital and Sustainable Development "explores the economic metaphor of 'natural capital' in the context of human behaviour towards the environment. It argues that the dominant model of sustainable development, underpinned by a particular understanding of this metaphor, is impeding progress towards genuine sustainability. To move forward it is vital that 'natural capital' is recognised as a metaphor and, crucially, that metaphor is recognised as an essentially open-ended learning tool. This book breaks new ground as it explores and develops just that. It presents an alternative economic model of natural capital value, based on recent "real options" thinking. This model articulates two decisive shifts in emphasis. A revision of how we see the relation of learning processes to a sustainable future. A recasting of our frameworks for sustainability planning and collective action to ensure that our continuing