Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta awarded Kew International Medal for work to protect nature and stop biodiversity loss

RBG Kew is proud to announce the recipient of this year’s Kew International Medal is Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta, a world-leading economist and author of The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review – an independent, global report calling for transformative change in the way we think, act and measure economic success to protect and enhance our prosperity and the natural world.

Professor Dasgupta was selected for his vital work authoring the review, which was published earlier this year. The Review is the first of its kind, providing a comprehensive framework for thinking about and approaching economics, and the decisions it gives rise to, in way which properly accounts for the natural world. It reinforces the compelling narrative that ‘business as usual’ is no longer an option for the future of planet and people.

On accepting his award at Kew Gardens in London today, Dasgupta said: “Our long-term prosperity relies on rebalancing our demand of Nature’s goods and services with its capacity to supply them. To do so requires bringing face to face economics and ecology. I’m delighted and honoured to accept this award, from a world-renowned institution which continues to contribute so much to our understanding of the latter.”

During his lecture, Partha commented: “We need to create an affection for nature. That desecrating nature is in a sense desecrating ourselves. Now how do you do that? Education, we need to understand nature, what Kew does for example. To develop an affection requires an understanding of the amazing mystery of what’s going on in keeping it alive.”

In selecting Dasgupta for this the 14^th Kew International medal, Richard Deverell, Director of RBG Kew said: “It is an honour to award this medal to Partha for his passion and commitment to protect nature and stop biodiversity loss for the long-term benefit of people and the planet. The premise of Dasgupta’s Review is very much at the heart of RBG Kew’s own work and mission – that all life on Earth, including humanity, depends on nature. Kew’s experience in over 100 countries documenting, protecting and promoting the sustainable use of biodiversity supports his conclusion that our demands on nature are untenable.

We are extremely thankful for Partha’s authorship of this review, the first of its kind and delivered at a critical moment for humanity with planetary health on a knife edge.  As we look ahead to both COP26 for climate change, and COP15 for biodiversity, we hope Partha’s report will materially shape global policies and commitments.”

First established in 1992, the prestigious Kew International Medal is an annual award given to individuals for distinguished, internationally recognised work aligned to the mission of Kew. Nominations are received from across the organisation and a selection panel decides the winner. Previous award winners include Sir David Attenborough (1996); Juan Santos, then President of Colombia (2017) and Mary Robinson, Chair of the Elders and former President of Ireland (2018).

RBG Kew’s own work is aiming to help stop biodiversity loss and to promote sustainable use of nature. In March 2021, Kew launched its 10-year strategy to help end the extinction crisis and protect nature, pledging to intensify efforts to understand and protect plants and fungi, for the well-being of people and the future of all life on Earth. In the wake of a global pandemic, and with the future of the planet in peril, the strategy represents a public commitment by Kew to do everything in its power to reverse the environmental devastation of biodiversity loss and climate change.

Awarding the medal to Sir Partha at the lecture in Kew Gardens today, Dame Amelia Fawcett, Chair of the Board of Trustees of RBG Kew said: “As we lead up to COP15 and COP26, RBG Kew is perfectly placed as a globally revered plant science institute to lead efforts in creating a world where nature is protected. Drawing on our scientific research, unrivalled collections of plants and fungi, global network of partners, and our gardens at Kew and Wakehurst, we will seek to shape policy and lead by example as an advocate for environmental sustainability.”