SDG Week: How Natural Capital Accounting Supports Sustainable Development
As Ireland celebrates Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Week (19th-27th of September), it is an opportunity to reflect on how better environmental information can support improved outcomes for people, nature and the economy. Meeting the SDG targets requires more than ambition. It needs robust evidence about the state the stocks and flows of our ecosystems and the benefits they provide.
The System of Environmental-Economic Accounting Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) provides that evidence through an internationally recognised framework for measuring ecosystem extent, condition and services, and integrating this information into decision-making. Developed under the United Nations System of Environmental-Economic Accounting and adopted by the UN Statistical Commission, SEEA EA helps make nature visible in economic and policy decisions.
As noted in the World Bank WAVES policy briefing, SEEA EA provides “an internationally recognized and consistent framework” for accounting for natural capital, while recognising that
“Natural capital accounting (NCA) and the SDGs are highly compatible, with a shared purpose and philosophy. While the SDGs provide a policy framework, NCA provides the necessary data to move towards sustainable development.”
SEEA EA builds on this foundation by helping decision-makers understand how healthy ecosystems underpin economic prosperity, societal wellbeing and long-term sustainability.
Using Ecosystem Accounting to Deliver the SDGs
Supporting SDG 2: Zero Hunger
Healthy ecosystems are fundamental to productive, resilient and sustainable food systems.
SDG Target 2.4 calls for sustainable food production systems and resilient agricultural practices that maintain ecosystems, strengthen resilience to climate change and improve land and soil quality. SEEA Ecosystem Accounting helps make these connections visible by measuring how ecosystem condition contributes to agricultural productivity and long-term food security.
SEEA EA helps us understand the value of ecosystem services that support agriculture, including:
Pollination.
Soil formation and nutrient cycling.
Natural pest regulation.
Water retention and regulation.
Supporting SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
Clean water depends on healthy ecosystems. Rivers, lakes, wetlands, peatlands and groundwater systems all play a vital role in providing, filtering and regulating water resources.
SDG 6 aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Achieving this goal requires more than just water infrastructure. It also requires understanding and maintaining the ecosystems that support water quality, regulate flows and help build resilience to droughts and floods.
SEEA EA helps make these contributions visible by measuring both the condition of water-related ecosystems and the services they provide to society. Through ecosystem accounts, decision-makers can better understand:
The extent and condition of freshwater ecosystems.
Water provisioning services.
Natural water filtration and purification services.
Flood regulation and mitigation services.
The benefits ecosystems provide for communities, businesses and biodiversity.
Supporting SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Nature is an essential part of creating healthy, resilient and sustainable places to live. From parks and urban forests to rivers, wetlands and coastal habitats, ecosystems provide a wide range of benefits that improve quality of life while helping communities adapt to environmental challenges.
SEEA EA helps make these benefits visible by measuring how ecosystems contribute to the wellbeing of people and communities. This information can support more sustainable planning and investment decisions by recognising nature as a vital asset alongside traditional infrastructure.
SEEA EA can help quantify ecosystem services that support cities and communities, including:
Recreation and cultural benefits.
Health and wellbeing outcomes.
Climate regulation and urban cooling.
Flood mitigation and water management.
Air quality improvements.
Protection of natural and cultural heritage.
Supporting SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Achieving sustainable consumption and production requires a better understanding of how the economy depends on nature and how natural resources are used over time.
SDG 12 calls for the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources, recognising that long-term prosperity depends on maintaining the natural systems that provide the materials, energy and ecosystem services upon which society relies. SEEA EA links information on ecosystems with economic activity, providing a clearer picture of the relationship between production, consumption and the environment.
SEEA EA can provide insights into
The condition and capacity of ecosystems that supply natural resources.
The sustainability of resource use and production patterns.
How economic activities impact ecosystem condition over time.
Opportunities to improve resource efficiency and support a more circular economy.
The contribution of ecosystems to sustainable tourism and bioeconomy development.
Supporting SDG 13: Climate Action
Climate action and healthy ecosystems go hand in hand.
Forests, wetlands, peatlands, grasslands and marine ecosystems play a critical role in regulating the climate by storing carbon, sequestering greenhouse gases and helping communities adapt to the impacts of climate change. Understanding and measuring these contributions is essential for effective climate policy.
SEEA EA can help assess:
Carbon stocks stored in ecosystems.
Carbon sequestration services provided by forests, wetlands and other habitats.
Ecosystem condition and resilience.
The contribution of nature-based solutions to climate adaptation.
The co-benefits of ecosystem restoration for climate, biodiversity and communities.
Rather than viewing ecosystems solely as assets to be protected, SEEA EA helps demonstrate their role as active contributors to climate action, supporting both mitigation efforts and long-term adaptation strategies.
Supporting SDGs 14 and 15: Life Below Water and Life on Land
The connection between SEEA EA and the SDGs is perhaps most evident in SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). These goals focus on conserving biodiversity, protecting ecosystems and ensuring that natural assets continue to provide benefits for current and future generations.
Healthy ecosystems support a wide range of services that societies depend upon, from food production and water purification to climate regulation, flood protection and recreation. Yet these benefits are often overlooked in traditional economic measures.
SEEA EA helps address this gap by measuring:
The extent and condition of terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems.
Changes in biodiversity and ecosystem health over time.
The ecosystem services provided by forests, wetlands, rivers, peatlands and marine habitats.
The contribution of ecosystems to economic activity and human wellbeing.
Importantly, the role of environmental-economic accounting is explicitly recognised within the SDG framework itself. As noted in the WAVES policy briefing:
“SDG target 15.9 calls for ecosystem and biodiversity values to be integrated into national and local planning, development process, poverty reduction strategies and accounts.”
SDG Indicator 15.9.1 goes a step further by specifically referencing the integration of biodiversity into national accounting and reporting systems through implementation of the SEEA EA. This framework provides a more complete understanding of how nature contributes to society, the economy and sustainable development.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Delivering the Sustainable Development Goals requires collaboration. SDG 17 recognises that meaningful progress depends on partnerships that bring together government, academia, business, civil society and communities to share knowledge, build capacity and drive action.
This principle sits at the heart of Natural Capital Ireland (NCI). We help to connect and convene stakeholders from across sectors to advance natural capital thinking, support the development of ecosystem accounts and natural capital approaches, and promote evidence-based decision-making for nature and society.
We would like to thank the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) for their continued support, along with the many organisations, stakeholders and volunteers who contribute their expertise, time and enthusiasm to our work.
Learn More About Our Work
If you would like to learn more about how natural capital accounting can support sustainable development across different goals, explore some of our recent projects and collaborations:
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Explore the NCI and Irish Green Building Council literature review on the relationship between natural capital and the built environment: NCI / IGBC Literature Review
SDG 14: Life Below Water: Learn more about the REBORN project and its work to support healthier marine ecosystems and coastal resilience: REBORN Project
SDG 15: Life on Land: Discover the INCASE project, which helped pioneer natural capital accounting in Ireland through the development of ecosystem accounts across a range of catchments: INCASE Project
To learn more about Natural Capital Ireland and our ongoing work to support the integration of nature into decision-making, explore our website: Natural Capital Ireland.
During Ireland's SDG Week, we celebrate not only the Sustainable Development Goals themselves, but also the partnerships, knowledge-sharing and collective action needed to achieve them. By working together, we can ensure that nature is valued, measured and incorporated into the decisions that shape our future.
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