New Global Nature Relationship Index Proposed to Measure Human and Environmental Wellbeing Together

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New Global Nature Relationship Index Proposed to Measure Human and Environmental Wellbeing Together

New Global Nature Relationship Index Proposed to Measure Human and Environmental Wellbeing Together

Ganesh Khatiwada 2026-07-08 10:31:00

Kathmandu | Ecosphere News
An international team of researchers has proposed a new global framework that could transform how countries measure progress toward sustainability by assessing the strength of the relationship between people and nature alongside human wellbeing.
Published in the scientific journal Nature, the paper titled "An Aspirational Approach to Planetary Futures" argues that current measures of development, including economic indicators and the Human Development Index (HDI), do not adequately capture whether societies are living sustainably within Earth's ecological limits.
The researchers propose the creation of a Nature Relationship Index (NRI)—a complementary global indicator designed to evaluate how effectively nations foster healthy relationships between people and the natural world. The index would assess whether countries are protecting biodiversity, restoring ecosystems, ensuring equitable access to nature, using natural resources responsibly, and strengthening the ecological foundations that support long-term human wellbeing.
The study is the outcome of a broad international collaboration involving scientists from several countries, including Professor Laura Pereira of the Global Change Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand and the Stockholm Resilience Centre. The researchers emphasize that sustainable development should not be measured solely by economic growth or social indicators, but also by how societies coexist with and care for the ecosystems upon which they depend.
Rather than focusing primarily on environmental decline and ecological crises, the authors advocate for a more optimistic and action-oriented approach. They argue that establishing measurable goals for improving human–nature relationships can inspire governments, businesses, and communities to pursue positive environmental outcomes while enhancing quality of life.
According to the researchers, the proposed Nature Relationship Index would provide policymakers with a practical tool for evaluating whether development pathways are simultaneously improving human prosperity and maintaining healthy ecosystems. Such an index could also help track progress toward global biodiversity, climate, and sustainable development commitments.
The proposal comes at a time when countries are seeking more integrated approaches to address interconnected challenges including biodiversity loss, climate change, land degradation, and growing pressure on natural resources. Experts believe that incorporating nature into national measures of progress could encourage more balanced policies that recognize ecosystems as essential assets for economic resilience, public health, food security, and social wellbeing.
While the Nature Relationship Index remains a proposal requiring further international discussion and development, its authors hope it will become a globally recognized benchmark that complements existing development indicators and helps guide humanity toward a future where both people and nature can flourish together.
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