Discounting is a controversial topic in environmental economics, as it assigns value to future financial gains and losses. Using a single discount rate helps choose projects with the most social benefits, but it can underestimate the impact of distant damages on future generations. Lowering discount rates could mean sacrificing present gains for future benefits, depending on the environment's condition and climate stability. Environmental damages cannot be fully compensated by economic activities, so increasing the prices of ecosystem services could counteract discounting effects. Uncertainty about the future justifies using declining discount rates to prepare for the worst-case scenario.