Brief: A public debt as a basis for life preservation policies (M. Gonon)

Monday 30 May 2022

Author: Morgane Gonon

Under the direction of: Harold Levrel, Patrice Geoffron
Supervision: Clément Surun, Harold Levrel

Abstract :
This research work completes the ongoing thesis work of Clément SURUN on the micro-macro link in environmental accounting. It develops and provides answers to the following research question: How can the application of regulations concerning the preservation of natural areas be the basis for integrating the environment into the national accounting framework and thereby be strengthened in its implementation?

This study consisted in testing the information of a national ecological accounting system with strong sustainability by statistical sources or data relating to the application of the avoid, reduce and compensate (ERC) sequence - which aims to achieve no net loss of biodiversity at the scale of a project - and the national objective of no net artificialisation. It also aims to show the extent to which structuring this information in an accounting framework can help improve the public policies studied, both in their design and in their application.

Evaluations of preservation costs at the macro and micro levels were carried out in order to compare the method with the available data and to consider the modalities of a coherent aggregation of data between the scales. The results are presented in a sequence of accounts. This structuring of information relating to these policy objectives and their implementation costs in an accounting framework should make it possible to strengthen the effectiveness of public action by accurately identifying the associated financing needs. Finally, this work opens up avenues for reflection and action by quantifying the ’ecological debt’ of private and public players with respect to natural areas. This ecological debt could lead to the emergence of new prudential rules of a new kind, an ecological solvency requirement

> Dissertation accessible on the following link

. Key words: Ecological accounting; strong sustainability; biodiversity; artificialisation; public policies