Skip to content
openDemocracy
Subscribe

Forget GDP growth, it’s sustainable wellbeing we need to aim for

An EU conference on sustainable wellbeing provided a real vision for a future that’s fairer for all

By Robert Costanza
Forget GDP growth, it’s sustainable wellbeing we need to aim for
A revolutionary technique to restore coral reefs was tested at Royal Burgers' Zoo in the Netherlands. Marine restoration is one of the policies needed to achieve sustainable wellbeing, experts say | Ana Fernandez/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Published:
Share

I’ve just been to a three-day conference on sustainable prosperity in Europe, attended by thousands of people.

In a stirring opening address, the speaker said governments must stop misusing GDP growth as their goal and move swiftly and urgently to sustainable wellbeing within planetary boundaries. They got a standing ovation.

The young leader of a climate and social justice movement concluded the event with a call to join the “movement of movements”, to create a new economy based on sustainable prosperity, justice and sufficiency. Everyone rose to their feet to show their solidarity.

This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International licence. If you have any queries about republishing please contact us. Please check individual images for licensing details.

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0