Researchers emphasize that to safeguard human wellbeing, global decisions that could affect the environment should be anchored in our understanding of the deep bond between humans and nature. The authors of the article are focused on promoting fair and inclusive decision-making aimed at ensuring a healthy ocean for both people and the planet.
The wellbeing of humans is intrinsically linked to nature, as it provides food, regulates climate, and enriches culture, making the preservation of nature a fundamental human rights issue.
Moreover, recent advancements in international human rights legislation reinforce that governments must consider the interplay between humans and nature during environmental decision-making.
A commentary featured in npj Ocean Sustainability by a diverse group of researchers—including specialists in ecosystem services, environmental governance, deep-sea ecology, and law—asserts that these developments should inspire a reevaluation of how we approach environmental decisions that could affect biodiversity.
They advocate for focusing on assessments of potential harm, asserting that the mere ability to predict risks to human wellbeing is enough to warrant precautionary measures to prevent them.
Implementing this approach would represent a substantial shift in existing environmental decision-making, which the authors believe is currently limited by an overemphasis on needing quantifiable certainty in impact assessments.
Importantly, the authors indicate that human rights law suggests that all available evidence—regardless of its perceived uncertainty—should be incorporated into decision-making processes.
With this in mind, they call for global environmental decisions to incorporate essential scientific and ecological findings, including insights and traditions from local communities, as well as novel risk-based research methods that evaluate precaution under consideration of environmental impacts.
The researchers contend that this approach will guarantee that ecosystems crucial for human wellbeing around the world are properly considered in decision-making.
The article features contributions from scholars at the University of Plymouth and the University of Strathclyde, part of the One Ocean Hub—an international initiative dedicated to fostering fair and inclusive decision-making for a healthy ocean for all.
Dr. Holly Niner, a Global Challenge Research Fellow at the University of Plymouth and lead author, stated: “Many areas of our planet—such as the deep ocean—are still largely unknown to us. However, it’s clear that these regions are essential for human welfare on a global scale. Just because we lack comprehensive, statistically certain evidence of our dependencies on these areas does not mean we can ignore their importance in decision-making that may pose risks. To safeguard our planet and human wellbeing, we must address the broader context, recognizing that biodiversity is interconnected, not isolated. This article advocates for placing the vital links between people and nature at the forefront of our decision-making processes.”
Dr. Sian Rees, the study’s senior author and Associate Professor of Social-Ecological Systems (Research) at the University of Plymouth, added: “The loss of biodiversity goes beyond simply measuring declines in habitats and species or fitting within cost-benefit analyses. To truly transform our approach to its protection for now and future generations, we must question the current frameworks governing all environmental decisions. We can initiate this change by framing biodiversity loss as a human rights concern and ensuring that environmental decision-making aligns with progress in international human rights law.”
Facing the Challenges of Environmental Decision-Making: The Deep Ocean Perspective
The deep ocean covers about 60% of the Earth’s surface, yet vast portions remain entirely uncharted. Nonetheless, we know that the biodiversity and habitats there play a vital role in maintaining the health of our planet and all humanity.
In their article in npj Ocean Sustainability, the researchers note that the ecological and spiritual bonds between people and the deep sea can be broadly articulated through ecosystem services research methodologies.
Consequently, the authors assert that enough evidence exists to evaluate foreseeable risks and integrate these values, along with precautionary strategies, into decisions that could lead to biodiversity loss or harm to human wellbeing.
