Why Ecologists Should Care about Financial Markets. (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Galaz, Victor; Gars, Johan; Moberg, Fredrik; Nykvist, Björn; Repinski, Cecilia
• Is Part Of: Trends in ecology & evolution. Volume 30:Number 10(2015)
• Page Start: 571
• Page End: 580
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution (Biology) -- Periodicals; 576.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2015.06.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0169-5347

Abstract

Abstract : Financial actors such as international banks andinvestors play an important role in the global economy. This role is shifting due to financial innovations, increased sustainability ambitions from large financial actors, and changes in international commodity markets. These changes are creating new global connections that potentially makefinancial markets, actors, and instruments important aspects of global environmental change. Despite this, the way financial markets and actors affect ecosystem change in different parts of the world has seldom been elaborated in the literature. We summarize these financial trends, explore how they connect to ecosystems and ecological change in both direct and indirect ways, and elaborate on crucial research gaps. Trends: Banks, investors, and other financial actors play an important role in the global economy, which itself is a prime driver of ecological change. Changes in financial markets are creating new global connections that make financial markets, actors, and instruments important aspects of global environmental change. We summarize these financial trends, explore how they connect to ecosystems and ecological change in both direct and indirect ways, and elaborate on crucial research gaps.