7.1.4—"Natural capital" perspective
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Objective
- 7.1.4
- Level
- SL
A Useful Model Is Still a Perspective
Calling nature 'natural capital', 'income' and 'services' is a model that foregrounds benefits and sustainable rates but frames nature in human-use terms.
The model can reveal stock depletion and make long-term resource limits visible. Its risk is an extreme anthropocentric reading in which nature appears valuable only for exploitation.
A forest described only as timber capital may hide intrinsic, cultural and spiritual value; adding those perspectives improves the decision without discarding stock–flow analysis.
Use the model for a defined sustainability question, then state which non-market relationships and values it leaves out.
A useful model is not a complete copy of the system.