David Roberts — None of the world’s top industries would be profitable if they paid for the natural capital they use

True cost versus market price. Privatize the gains and socialize the costs based on true cost including surplus and externalities.

Trucost’s third big finding is the coup de grace. Of the top 20 region-sectors ranked by environmental impacts, none would be profitable if environmental costs were fully integrated. Ponder that for a moment: None of the world’s top industrial sectors would be profitable if they were paying their full freight. Zero. 

That amounts to an global industrial system built on sleight of hand. As Paul Hawken likes to put it, we are stealing the future, selling it in the present, and calling it GDP.

Grist
None of the world’s top industries would be profitable if they paid for the natural capital they use
David Roberts