The King joins scientists, experts and indigenous leaders at St James’s Palace to explore the role nature plays in health
Scientists, experts, business and indigenous leaders have come together to highlight the fundamental role that nature plays in human health, at a Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA) event in London.
An inspiring afternoon of expert panel discussions and a collaborative workshop was followed by an evening reception, which was joined by The King.
The afternoon’s discussions focused on how the latest scientific knowledge can be translated into business, practice and policy to unlock the transformative potential of nature as the basis for human health. This emphasized four key areas: risks to health caused by escalating climate and nature crises, for example wildfires; the benefits of exposure to nature on physical and mental health and what this means for urban design; how biodiversity affects the composition and health of our bodies and provides and inspires medicines; and what Indigenous wisdom together with science can tell us about nature and human health.
The conversations that unfolded throughout the afternoon also addressed the need for a new mindset that connects science, philosophy and indigenous wisdom as a basis for transforming our economy around Nature – a ‘Nature-First economy’.
“We must rethink our relationship with nature to address the interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and human health. The way we build our cities, manage our landscapes and produce our food are major causes behind the crisis, but also offer opportunities to move from the current vicious cycle to a virtuous one centred around nature. Science and technology are not enough to drive change at the scale needed. A new paradigm consisting of new concepts, perceptions, practices and values is necessary to create a world that prospers within nature and not apart from it”, said Marc Palahi, CEO of the CBA.
In the evening, The King joined a reception where he met with scientists, experts, companies and investors working to accelerate the transition towards nature-and-health positive businesses, and viewed an exhibition on nature, bioeconomy and health.
New scientific initiative with The King’s Foundation at Highgrove
During the event, the CBA and The King’s Foundation announced a new joint initiative on nature and health at Highgrove Gardens.
The project scientifically evaluates methods of assessing health and exposure to nature, measuring connections between biodiversity, the environment and human health. Using innovative digital tools, this project will track health in real time, providing evidence around specific nature-based solutions for communities.
“I am proud to work with our sister organization, The King’s Foundation, to advance and share knowledge regarding the benefits of nature and its biodiversity in human health and wellbeing. This is the first of a future network of Living Labs in this area”, said Marc Palahí.
“Our charitable mission is to promote Harmony with nature, and this new project will go a long way to demonstrate the tangible health benefits of the natural world – something we have long been passionate about. We are delighted to be working with the CBA again to further this area of study”, said Simon Sadinsky, Executive Director for Education at The King’s Foundation.
Combating climate-related risks to health
The event saw the CBA announce its first Custodian Member, the ”la Caixa” Foundation, one of the largest charities in the world. As a Custodian Member, la Caixa Foundation will support the CBA in its activities to address the accelerating problem of wildfires and water-related disturbances, such droughts and floods, which affect human safety, health and wellbeing. New initiatives will follow in the coming months.
New Fellowship in Artificial Intelligence
The event also marked the launch of the pioneering CBA Fellowship in Artificial Intelligence for a Nature-First Economy, supported by NatureAlpha. The Fellowship will explore how AI can support our understanding and management of complex socio-ecological systems, leveraging cutting-edge technology to support monitoring and evaluation in projects.
About the CBA
The Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA) was established in 2020 by His Majesty King Charles III (formerly His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales), and became a registered charity in September 2023. The CBA aims to accelerate the transition to a nature-first economy that is both powered by nature and prospers in harmony with it. It delivers transformative impact at scale through its global network of Living Labs that blend science, technology and indigenous knowledge to holistically regenerate landscapes, support communities and rethink value chains.
Background
Nature is the keystone infrastructure regulating our planetary system, including its climate, the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. As humans, we are an integral part of nature – and our safety, and physical and mental health and well-being are dependent on nature’s health. Nature’s ability to provide healthy soils, fresh water and productive crops, is also fundamental to economic and social stability.
Photo credits:
Aaron Chown – WPA Pool/Getty Images
Ian Jones
