Diverse values of nature for sustainability
Authors: Pascual Unai , Balvanera Patricia , Anderson Christopher B. , Chaplin-Kramer Rebecca , Christie Michael , González-Jiménez David , Martin Adrian , Raymond Christopher M. , Termansen Mette , Vatn Arild , Athayde Simone , Baptiste Brigitte , Barton David N. , Jacobs Sander , Kelemen Eszter , Kumar Ritesh , Lazos Elena , Mwampamba Tuyeni H. , Nakangu Barbara , O’Farrell Patrick , Subramanian Suneetha M. , van Noordwijk Meine , Ahn SoEun , Amaruzaman Sacha , Amin Ariane M. , Arias-Arévalo Paola , Arroyo-Robles Gabriela , Cantú-Fernández Mariana , Castro Antonio J. , Contreras Victoria , De Vos Alta , Dendoncker Nicolas , Engel Stefanie , Eser Uta , Faith Daniel P. , Filyushkina Anna , Ghazi Houda , Gómez-Baggethun Erik , Gould Rachelle K. , Guibrunet Louise , Gundimeda Haripriya , Hahn Thomas , Harmáčková Zuzana V. , Hernández-Blanco Marcello , Horcea-Milcu Andra-Ioana , Huambachano Mariaelena , Wicher Natalia Lutti Hummel , Aydın Cem İskender , Islar Mine , Koessler Ann-Kathrin , Kenter Jasper O. , Kosmus Marina , Lee Heera , Leimona Beria , Lele Sharachchandra , Lenzi Dominic , Lliso Bosco , Mannetti Lelani M. , Merçon Juliana , Monroy-Sais Ana Sofía , Mukherjee Nibedita , Muraca Barbara , Muradian Roldan , Murali Ranjini , Nelson Sara H. , Nemogá-Soto Gabriel R. , Ngouhouo-Poufoun Jonas , Niamir Aidin , Nuesiri Emmanuel , Nyumba Tobias O. , Özkaynak Begüm , Palomo Ignacio , Pandit Ram , Pawłowska-Mainville Agnieszka , Porter-Bolland Luciana , Quaas Martin , Rode Julian , Rozzi Ricardo , Sachdeva Sonya , Samakov Aibek , Schaafsma Marije , Sitas Nadia , Ungar Paula , Yiu Evonne , Yoshida Yuki , Zent Eglee 
Published: August 2023

Twenty-five years since foundational publications on valuing ecosystem services for human well-being1,2, addressing the global biodiversity crisis3 still implies confronting barriers to incorporating nature’s diverse values into decision-making. These barriers include powerful interests supported by current norms and legal rules such as property rights, which determine whose values and which values of nature are acted on. A better understanding of how and why nature is (under)valued is more urgent than ever4. Notwithstanding agreements to incorporate nature’s values into actions, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)5 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals6, predominant environmental and development policies still prioritize a subset of values, particularly those linked to markets, and ignore other ways people relate to and benefit from nature7. Arguably, a ‘values crisis’ underpins the intertwined crises of biodiversity loss and climate change8, pandemic emergence9 and socio-environmental injustices10. On the basis of more than 50,000 scientific publications, policy documents and Indigenous and local knowledge sources, the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) assessed knowledge on nature’s diverse values and valuation methods to gain insights into their role in policymaking and fuller integration into decisions7,11. Applying this evidence, combinations of values-centred approaches are proposed to improve valuation and address barriers to uptake, ultimately leveraging transformative changes towards more just (that is, fair treatment of people and nature, including inter- and intragenerational equity) and sustainable futures.