Short answer

Designers should proactively integrate biodiversity conservation and ecosystem health into every stage of the design process, from material selection to end-of-life, recognizing nature as a foundational resource.

Field: Sustainability
Source: IIASA PURE (International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis) (2018)
Method: Comprehensive report synthesis
Evidence: Strong effect

The Living Planet Report 2018 highlights that human society's reliance on natural resources and ecosystem services makes biodiversity loss a critical factor for future design and innovation. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2018 study published in IIASA PURE (International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis). Using Comprehensive report synthesis, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers should proactively integrate biodiversity conservation and ecosystem health into every stage of the design process, from material selection to end-of-life, recognizing nature as a foundational resource.

Study

SustainabilityHigh ImpactStrong effect

Biodiversity loss significantly increases long-term design risk and resource scarcity

The Living Planet Report 2018 highlights that human society's reliance on natural resources and ecosystem services makes biodiversity loss a critical factor for future design and innovation.

IIASA PURE (International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis) · 2018

Key Findings

01Nature provides essential services (health, wealth, food, security) that underpin modern human society.
02Biodiversity is not just a 'nice to have' but fundamental for survival and thriving.
03Millions of species yet to be described may hold future benefits for humanity.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When designing a new product, conduct a 'biodiversity impact assessment' alongside traditional environmental impact assessments, considering how material sourcing, manufacturing, use, and disposal affect local and global ecosystems.

Project actions

01When choosing materials for your design, research their origin and impact on biodiversity.
02Consider how your product's use or disposal might affect local wildlife or ecosystems.
03Explore biomimicry as a design strategy to learn from nature's sustainable solutions.

Method & Evidence

AimTo assess the state of the planet's biodiversity and its implications for human well-being and societal development.

MethodComprehensive report synthesis

ProcedureThe report synthesizes data from various scientific studies, ecological monitoring, and expert analyses to present a global overview of biodiversity trends, ecosystem services, and their connection to human activities.

ContextGlobal ecological and socio-economic assessment

Variables

IVHuman activities and consumption patterns

DVState of global biodiversity and ecosystem services

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Comprehensive global synthesis of biodiversity data.
+Highlights the interconnectedness of human well-being and nature.
+Provides a strong scientific basis for conservation and sustainable development.

Limitations

The report is very broad; applying its global findings to a specific local design project requires careful consideration and additional localized research.

Reliability & validity

The report's reliability comes from synthesizing numerous peer-reviewed studies and expert consensus. Its validity is high as it directly addresses the stated aim of assessing biodiversity's state and implications, drawing on robust ecological data.

Think critically

How might a designer balance the immediate economic benefits of resource extraction with the long-term ecological costs highlighted by reports like the Living Planet Report?

Design Principles

"Design for ecological resilience: Create products and systems that support and enhance natural ecosystems, ensuring long-term resource availability and environmental stability."

This report underscores that all design, from products to systems, is intrinsically linked to the health of natural systems. Understanding this interdependence is crucial for developing sustainable solutions and ensuring the long-term viability of human-made innovations, directly addressing the 'Sustainability' topic In design.

What This Means for Your Design

Everything we design and use comes from nature, and if we lose too many plants and animals, we risk losing the very things that make our lives good and possible.

How to use in your project

1.Cite the Living Planet Report 2018 when discussing the importance of sustainable material choices or the environmental impact of your design.
2.Use its findings to justify design decisions aimed at reducing ecological footprints or promoting biodiversity.
3.Refer to the report when explaining the 'need' for your sustainable design solution in the context of global environmental challenges.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The Living Planet Report 2018 (Barrett et al., 2018) underscores that human society's reliance on natural resources and ecosystem services makes biodiversity loss a critical factor for future design and innovation. This report highlights that nature provides essential services underpinning modern society, emphasizing that biodiversity is not merely 'nice to have' but fundamental for survival and thriving. Therefore, my design aims to mitigate its ecological footprint by [specific design action], aligning with the principle of designing for ecological resilience to ensure long-term resource availability and environmental stability.

Source

IIASA PURE (International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis)

Living Planet Report 2018: Aiming Higher

journal · 2018

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about biodiversity loss significantly increases long-term design risk and resource scarcity?: Designers should proactively integrate biodiversity conservation and ecosystem health into every stage of the design process, from material selection to end-of-life, recognizing nature as a foundational resource. Evidence: IIASA PURE (International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis) (2018).
Why does "Biodiversity loss significantly increases long-term design risk and resource scarcity" matter for design?: This report underscores that all design, from products to systems, is intrinsically linked to the health of natural systems. Understanding this interdependence is crucial for developing sustainable solutions and ensuring the long-term viability of human-made innovations, directly addressing the 'Sustainability' topic in IB DT.
How can designers apply this research?: Designers should proactively integrate biodiversity conservation and ecosystem health into every stage of the design process, from material selection to end-of-life, recognizing nature as a foundational resource.
What were the main findings?: Nature provides essential services (health, wealth, food, security) that underpin modern human society.. Biodiversity is not just a 'nice to have' but fundamental for survival and thriving.. Millions of species yet to be described may hold future benefits for humanity.
What research method was used?: Comprehensive report synthesis.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2018 journal from IIASA PURE (International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis).
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing a new product, conduct a 'biodiversity impact assessment' alongside traditional environmental impact assessments, considering how material sourcing, manufacturing, use, and disposal affect local and global ecosystems.
What are the limitations?: The report is a synthesis and does not present new primary data; its conclusions are based on existing scientific consensus.