The importance of ecosystem services as an alternative approach to understanding the environment

The impact of human activity on the environment is by no means a recent phe- nomenon. The effects of climate change first began to be felt at least hundreds of years ago, as far back as the early industrial revolutions. But it is only recently that we have begun to raise concerns, conduct research and develop strategies to combat these effects. While we ohen rely on technology to solve problems we have created, the reality is – and deep down, we understand it – that the only way to mitigate climate change, environmental disasters and ecosystem death is to change our consumption patterns and lifestyles. However, campaigns to raise awareness of environmental issues do not yield the desired results, as the interests of business, governments and local consumers are ohen at odds with each other.
Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to conceptualise the importance of ecosystem services as an alternative approach to understanding the environment that can be of interest to all economic actors (business, family, government). In

addition, the valuation of ecosystem services provides an opportunity to bring together experts fr om different fields of science and develop joint proposals to address environmental issues.
One of the first scientists to address the problems of global ecology and the environmental damage caused by industrial activity was Vladimir Vernadsky.1 Despite the fact that he lived and wrote in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, they remain relevant today. Vernadsky developed the doctrine of the biosphere, which he described as “the union of all ecosystems into a single whole […].”2His warnings of environmental harm were even published in the press of tsarist Russia. However, Europe’s urgent problems at the time, coupled with subsequent inter- national conflicts such as the two world wars, diverted the world’s attention away from these crucial issues.
Later, in the 1960s, there were other scholars, such as Rachel L. Carson, author of Silent Spring (1962), and analytical and research organisations such as the Club of Rome, which was founded in 1968 and published The Limits to Growth in 1972. During this period, environmental issues that began to manifest themselves simul- taneously with the emergence of numerous global social movements for peace, equality, sexual diversity, etc., came to the fore. These ideas were taken up by the United Nations in 1972 at the first World Climate Conference, which was the first global call for governments to address urgent environmental problems. In the fol- lowing decades, efforts have been made to conclude binding treaties aimed at encouraging countries to resolve environmental issues. Examples include the 1992 Earth Summit, the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, the 2009 Copenhagen Accord, and the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Certainly, there are numerous actions and a wide range of councils and aid funds working successfully to help the most disadvantaged countries in the world. However, what these diplomatic efforts have in common is their failure to achieve their primary goal of solving environmental problems. For example, global warming and air pollution trends have been steadily increasing from 1972 to 2025.3 Air pollution levels rose from 320 parts per million in 1970 to 380 parts per million by 2008, and exceeded 400 parts per million by 2020.4 The average temperature increase was about 0.26°C in each decade. In this regard, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that 2024 was the warmest year on record, with temperatures exceeding pre-industrial levels by about 1.55°C.5
On the other hand, despite continuing technological progress, there is no real transformation of the economy. Environmental problems have been overshadowed by international issues such as the war between Russia and Ukraine, the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and tariff wars initiated by the United States. Germany, the UK and other European states are buying significant amounts of oil and gas and have even returned to using coal to generate electricity.
John Bellamy Foster identifies two main ways in which technological advances can help reduce environmental impact: firstly, by minimising the amount of mate- rials and energy required for production, and secondly, by replacing existing technologies with less harmful alternatives.6 He calls for a stronger focus on solar energy development as part of the energy transition, drawing attention to the vir- tually inexhaustible supply of solar energy for thousands of years to come and its environmental friendliness. However, he emphasises that this must be accompa- nied by more widespread technological advances. In this regard, ideas such as solar reflectors and panels designed to absorb solar radiation have been discussed for several decades now.
Yet the use of solar panels and other innovative technologies comes with cer- tain limitations in terms of energy storage and processing. Wind farms cannot be deployed in all countries and are expensive to maintain. In addition, electric vehi- cle batteries are ohen charged using electricity derived mainly from fossil fuels. Therefore, we cannot rely solely on current technological advances. As technolog- ical innovations evolve, it is necessary to consider awareness-raising strategies, for example, with a focus on ecosystem services. These innovations should aim at max- imising benefits while minimising harm from the materials produced or generated. Ecosystem services are the benefits that people derive from natural ecosys- tems serving as the foundation and support for life and the economy within our modern economic system. These benefits include essential resources such as water, timber, food, sunlight and oxygen. The conservation of ecosystems directly affects human well-being and economic activity. In a world wh ere sustainability is increasingly important, understanding and valuing these services can provide companies with a competitive advantage. Ecosystem services are an integral part of both the production and consumption stages of the economic cycle, influencing the creation of goods and services. Human well-being directly depends on their
conservation.
Ecosystem research and valuation play a critical role in developing profes- sional strategies that are ethical, economically viable and innovative. For example, investments in waste recycling and alternative energy are examples of practical applications of ecosystem valuation. This approach, which has been advocated by Robert Costanza since 1997, is consistent with the broader Sustainable Develop- ment Goals. Educating stakeholders on these issues and disseminating information can help improve cooperation between business, governments and communities. However, in Mexico and globally, the integration of ecosystem services into pro- duction cycle strategies remains limited. This gap highlights the need to explore and recognise the importance of ecosystem services in both economic systems and general livelihood practices.
The first step in adopting these concepts involves studying and scientifically applying them in the production sphere. Environmentalists, geologists, political scientists, economists and others should develop strategies and solutions based on their professional experience. They should also consider various ideas for their ethics, economic viability and innovativeness, taking into account the challenge of ensuring the well-being not only of human beings but also of the environment. For example, when a company invests in setting up facilities to recycle waste, purify resources, reuse materials and produce energy from alternative sources, it should conduct an ecosystem services assessment. Marketing can be a powerful tool in this regard, used for campaigns that encourage businesses to adopt environmen- tally friendly practices and shih their focus towards sustainability.7
It is only recently that ecosystem services have come under the spotlight. They were not included in the first wave of research on environmental issues in the late 1960s, nor were they among the priority activities of the UN in the early 1990s, such as the 1992 Earth Summit or the launch of the Conferences of the Parties in 1995. This approach was brought to the forefront by Robert Costanza in 1997 in his article “The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capital”8 co-au- thored with other researches 9 was further developed in the 2000 article “Social goals and the valuation of ecosystem service.”10
Therefore, incorporating this approach into academic disciplines is in line with broader efforts to promote sustainable development and corporate social responsibility. Addressing environmental challenges requires innovative think- ing. It is essential that future professionals propose ethical and economically via- ble sustainability strategies when creating new industries and planning marketing campaigns and production processes.
Companies seek to expand their market presence, build customer loyalty and increase profits. However, they can achieve these goals by adopting the approach under consideration, thereby recognising their dependence on ecosystem services and considering the environmental costs of their activities. For example, compa- nies should consider how much it would cost them to produce a product if certain ecosystem services were unavailable, or how much they would lose due to ecosys- tem degradation during production. These losses ohen exceed the benefits that companies can reap. Governments, in turn, should set strict rules and penalties and implement effective monitoring systems to create incentives for businesses to adopt this approach.
In conclusion, ecosystem services provide an opportunity for companies to differentiate themselves from competitors and contribute to environmental sus- tainability goals. However, this requires the cooperation of two other key economic actors: the state and the private sector. The state must provide legal certainty and stability, while the private sector must consume responsibly and demand changes from companies that are consistent with the objective of ensuring the well-being of society. Education and training play a crucial role in this process, as future pro- fessionals and entrepreneurs will be confronted with environmental challenges requiring the implementation of sustainable practices.