The quest to measure our relationship with nature

Scientists and environmental experts are developing new measurement tools to assess how well humans live alongside nature, moving away from metrics that focus only on environmental destruction and damage. Rather than using dread-based measurements like carbon parts per million, they're creating positive metrics that measure whether nature is thriving and accessible, being used with care, and being safeguarded. The United Nations is planning to launch a Nature Relationship Index (NRI) in 2026 that will rank countries on their human-nature relationships, aiming to shift how nations view their environmental programs.