turning the world upside down: the happy planet index 3 rd international conference on gross...

Turning the World Upside Down:The Happy Planet Index3rd International Conference on Gross National Happiness

Bangkok28th November 2007

Nic Markscentre for well-being, nef (the new economics foundation)

Who are nef?

• An independent UK think-tank (founded 1986)

• Inspired by 3 principles1. Ecological Sustainability

2. Social Justice

3. People’s Well-being

• Well-being programme set up in 2001 to address question: What would policy look like if people’s well-being was its aim?

• Centre for well-being created in 2006• Happy Planet Index 2006 (1m downloads)

Turning the world upside down

What do Indicators indicate?

nef’s (un)Happy Planet Index

Does it turn the world upside down?

What do Indicators Indicate?

Ecosystem

What do Indicators Indicate?

Human system

Ecosystem

What do Indicators Indicate?

Human system

Ecosystem

What do Indicators Indicate?

Human system

Ecosystem

Culture

Social Capital

Governance

Economy

EducationHealthcar

e

Natural Capital

Biodiversity

CO2 emissions

Soil erosion

Water quality

Air quality

What do Indicators Indicate?

Human system

Ecosystem

Culture

Social Capital

Governance

Economy

EducationHealthcar

e

Natural Capital

Biodiversity

CO2 emissions

Soil erosion

Water quality

Air quality

Resource

demand

What do Indicators Indicate?

Human system

Ecosystem

Resource

demand

Ecosystem well-being

Human well-being

Culture

Social Capital

Governance

Economy

EducationHealthcar

e

Natural Capital

Biodiversity

CO2 emissions

Soil erosion

Water quality

Air quality

Ultimate Outcome measures

Human system

Ecosystem well-being

Human well-being

Natural Capital

Biodiversity

CO2 emissions

Soil erosion

Water quality

Air quality

Resources – the link

Human system

Resource

demand

Ecosystem well-being

Human well-being

Natural Capital

Biodiversity

CO2 emissions

Soil erosion

Water quality

Air quality

A Happy Planet Index

A Happy Planet Index

A Happy Planet Index

Launched by nef in July 2006HDI style rank order of nationsMeasure of the “Ecological efficiency with which human well-being is delivered”Over 1,000,000 downloads to date

What HPI measures

Human system

Ecosystem

Resource

demand

Ecosystem well-being

Human well-being

Culture

Social Capital

Governance

Economy

EducationHealthcar

e

Natural Capital

Biodiversity

CO2 emissions

Soil erosion

Water quality

Air quality

What HPI measures

Human system

Resource

demand

Human well-being

What HPI measures

Human system

Resource

demand

Human well-being

What HPI measures

Human system

Resource

demand

Human well-being

Happy and Long Lives

Resource Use

What HPI measures

Human system

Resource

demand

Human well-being

Happy and Long Lives

Resource Use

(divided by)

What HPI measures

Human system

Resource

demand

Human well-being

(Life Sat) * (Life Exp)

Eco Footprint

(divided by)

Country comparisons

CountryLife Sat

Life Exp

Eco Foot

HPI

Costa Rica

Bhutan

Thailand

UK

USA

Country comparisons

CountryLife Sat

Life Exp

Eco Foot

HPI

Costa Rica 7.5

Bhutan 7.6

Thailand 6.5

UK 7.1

USA 7.4

Country comparisons

CountryLife Sat

Life Exp

Eco Foot

HPI

Costa Rica 7.5 78.2

Bhutan 7.6 62.9

Thailand 6.5 70.0

UK 7.1 78.4

USA 7.4 77.4

Country comparisons

CountryLife Sat

Life Exp

Eco Foot

HPI

Costa Rica 7.5 78.2 2.1

Bhutan 7.6 62.9 1.3

Thailand 6.5 70.0 1.6

UK 7.1 78.4 5.4

USA 7.4 77.4 9.5

Country comparisons

CountryLife Sat

Life Exp

Eco Foot

HPI

Costa Rica 7.5 78.2 2.1 66.0 (3rd)

Bhutan 7.6 62.9 1.3 61.1 (13th)

Thailand 6.5 70.0 1.6 55.4 (32nd)

UK 7.1 78.4 5.4 40.3 (108th)

USA 7.4 77.4 9.5 28.8 (150th)

Happy Planet Index

Does the Happy Planet Index turn the world upside down?

It SIMPLY turns it INSIDE OUT!

Contact Details: Nic Marksnic.marks@neweconomics.org

Reports downloadable from

www.neweconomics.org

www.happyplanetindex.org