Robert Costanza

Robert Costanza is Professor of Ecological Economics at the Institute for Global Prosperity, University College London. He is concurrently Honorary Professor at the Australian National University (Crawford School of Public Policy), Affiliate Fellow at the Gund Institute for Environment (University of Vermont), deTao Master of Ecological Economics (Shanghai), Senior Research Fellow at the Stockholm Resilience Centre, and Overseas Expert of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. A 2024 Blue Planet Prize laureate, he co-founded the International Society for Ecological Economics and served as founding editor of Ecological Economics and Solutions, and is Editor-in-Chief of The Anthropocene Review. Fellowships include the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia (FASSA) and the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA).

Education

• Ph.D. in Systems Ecology, University of Florida, 1974–1979

Research Interests

Professor Costanza’s transdisciplinary research integrates human and natural systems to address policy and management challenges across scales—from local watersheds to the globe. Core themes include:

• Ecological Economics & Ecosystem Services: quantifying and valuing benefits provided by nature to inform sustainable decision-making.
• Landscape Ecology & Socio-Ecological Modelling: linking spatial patterns with ecological and economic processes.
• Energy & Material Flow Analysis: tracking resource inputs, transformations, and environmental impacts.
• Environmental Policy & Governance: designing incentive structures and institutions that avoid social traps and societal addictions.
• Well-being & Sustainability Indicators: developing alternatives to GDP such as the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) and SDG-aligned metrics.

Recent Publication Trends

Across his latest 15 peer-reviewed articles (2024-2025), Professor Costanza advances cultural ecosystem services valuation using online deliberation, explores Antarctic governance and tipping points, critiques GDP-centric economics, and proposes wellbeing-centred policy frameworks. Studies span diverse geographies—China, Australia, Antarctica, Latin America—and integrate participatory methods, Indigenous perspectives, and future-scenario analysis.

Scientific Awards & Recognition

• 2024 Blue Planet Prize (premier global environmental award)
• Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia (FASSA)
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA)
• Overseas Expert, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Co-founder & Past-President, International Society for Ecological Economics
• Founding Editor, Ecological Economics
• Founding Co-Editor-in-Chief, Solutions
• Editor-in-Chief, The Anthropocene Review

Grants & Collaborative Projects

Professor Costanza leads or co-leads several multi-million-dollar initiatives:

• Integrated Farm Modelling for Resilience & Sustainable Prosperity – ARC Linkage project with National Australia Bank & GIZ (2022-2025)
• Economics of Land Degradation (ELD) Initiative – global science-policy platform hosted by GIZ with UNEP, European Commission, BMZ
• Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) – applied in Vermont, Maryland, Oregon, Australia
• Overcoming Societal Addictions – scenario-planning and motivational interviewing analogues for societies
• Future Visions & Scenarios for Policy – participatory envisioning across scales (Australia, Iowa, New Orleans, LAC 2050)
• Valuing Natural Capital in Agro-ecosystems – partnership with National Australia Bank
• Ecosystem Services Gaming Platform – integrating research, education, and entertainment

Laboratories & Teams

Although no single “lab” name is specified, Professor Costanza’s work is anchored in the Institute for Global Prosperity at UCL and supported by an extensive international network spanning the Stockholm Resilience Centre, Gund Institute, Crawford School, and multiple UN and NGO partners. These collaborations provide interdisciplinary teams for modelling, scenario development, and policy engagement.