Centre for Research into Sustainability

Guest speaker: Dr Delphine Gibassier, Senior Research Fellow, University of Birmingham

Venue: Moore Building, Room 1-05

Paper authors:

Delphine Gibassier, Birmingham Business School, Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business University of Birmingham (United Kingdom) ;

Diane-Laure Arjaliès, Ivey Business School Western University (Canada).

Abstract:

Financialization of nature is underway. However, the modalities of how financialization happens have not yet been investigated in depth and the mechanisms of financialization are unknown. Therefore, we examine the financialization work of endangered species, and develop a process model of how the financialization of nature happens, through qualification, calculability and marketization.

The article is based on an in-depth study of the conservation organization that created the performance index, and interviews with conservationists and conservation finance specialists, conservation fieldwork and secondary evidence. In total, 53 interviews were conducted within the organization and its stakeholders (25) and outside within the conservation field.

The seminar will discuss the implications for financialization and for the conservation of species. Financialization of conservation is happening through uncommon carriers, the conservationists themselves. It channels society to achieve its aim and makes great use of visuals. Moreover, financialization remains incomplete. We will discuss the implications of our findings for financialization overall, and then move on to discuss the implication of the financialization of conservation on saving species. We suspect that by implementing a performance index, the organization has built a tool that rewards species that are more likely to survive, hence distracting conservationists from their mission to save the most endangered species. This has implication on the current societal debate about which species needs or can be saved, in a money-restricted era.

To book your place please contact Dr Leonardo Rinaldi.