Professor Yadvinder Malhi, Ecosystems and Biodiversity programme lead at the Environmental Change Institute (ECI) and Director of the ECI's Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, spoke at the TED Countdown Summit 2025 in Nairobi earlier this year. His talk, “How to Measure the Planet’s Heartbeat,” is now available to watch online.
In his talk Professor Malhi explores the hidden flows of energy that sustain life on Earth — from sunlight captured by forests to the intricate web of species interactions that power our planet’s ecosystems.
The TED Countdown Summit is TED’s global climate initiative, bringing together scientists, policymakers, business leaders, and activists to accelerate solutions to the climate and nature crises. The 2025 Summit focused on turning ambition into action ahead of COP30 in Brazil, highlighting voices and perspectives from across the Global South.
Professor Malhi’s talk captures the essence of his research on how ecosystems function as the “beating heart” of the planet and why understanding and protecting this natural energy is crucial for a sustainable future.
Watch the full TED Talk: How to Measure the Planet's Heartbeat