How to Finance Global Ecological Prosperity

Creation of the International Biosphere Fund, modeled (somewhat) like the IMF

Note: I put a lot of thought and research into this article a few years ago, and there are some potentially useful policy prescriptions here. But since then, I’ve shifted towards a more market-oriented approach to large-scale biosphere restoration. Once I’ve published the revised playbook, I will link to it here.

Introduction

Over the last 30 years, Costa Rica has tripled the size of its economy, doubled the size of its forests, and moved to 100% renewable energy.

They did this by implementing ecological conservation and restoration projects across the country, funded through a carbon tax and managed primarily through PES schemes.

This can be replicated on a global scale. The main barrier is funding. This article proposes a vehicle to overcome that barrier. It’s called the International Biosphere Fund (IBF).

The IBF would be designed somewhat in the style of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but with a decidedly different mission: invest in businesses and projects that create ecological resilience and sustainable prosperity, on a worldwide scale.