{"id":64777,"date":"2024-01-17T12:33:33","date_gmt":"2024-01-17T11:33:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/?p=64777"},"modified":"2024-12-16T17:08:53","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T16:08:53","slug":"beyond-economic-growth-a-wellbeing-economy-is-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/story\/64777\/beyond-economic-growth-a-wellbeing-economy-is-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond economic growth: A wellbeing economy is the future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"WEF
On the occasion of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting (WEF) held in Davos on 15\u201319 January 2024, Greenpeace activists protest against the climate crisis, species extinction and social inequality. Together with British snow artist Simon Beck, they stamped their demand “Life over Growth!” spectacularly in the snow near Davos.
\u00a9 Emanuel B\u00fcchler \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

This week multinational CEOs, government leaders, wealthy elites and other power holders gather at the World Economic Forum in Davos<\/a> where one of the four major themes is \u201ccreating growth\u201d. Ironic, as by now it\u2019s indisputably established that our economic system, dependent on growth and debt, is the root cause of the continued and escalating polycrisis that particularly affects the most marginalised  and has pushed humanity beyond 6 of 9 planetary boundaries<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

While the solutions to the many and severe problems are complex and need to be carefully adapted to local geographies and their inhabitants, the fundamental concepts on how we should reorganise our societies and economies are clear and gaining ground<\/a>. It\u2019s not rocket science, but it will take great collective effort to get there. The answer is a Wellbeing Economy, an alternative economic system that shifts focus from growth towards the wellbeing of people and the ecosystems that we\u2019re part of. <\/p>\n\n

\"WEF
Snow artist Simon Beck and Greenpeace activists during the making of the art work  to demand for Life Over Growth near Davos, where the World Economic Forum is taking place.
\u00a9 Emanuel B\u00fcchler \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Wellbeing is not a new idea, but it\u2019s gaining traction<\/h3>\n\n

The Wellbeing Economy Alliance<\/a> was founded in 2018, but the ideas about limits to growth<\/a> have been around since the early seventies. Unfortunately, the focus on growth and the narrative stipulating GDP as the main measurement of progress is what has prevailed, benefiting just a few at the expense of many. Oxfam just released a report<\/a> that shows that the five richest men have doubled their wealth since 2020, while five billion people have become poorer. Poverty is surging<\/a>, ecosystems are collapsing and the planet is heating up. Hence, ordinary citizens are starting to question whether more growth, extraction, exploitation and increasing wealth for the already super rich is the way to go.<\/p>\n\n

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Extreme inequality has to end. It is time for reforms that redistribute power and wealth while healing and protecting the world's ecosystems. #TimeForChange<\/a> #LifeOverGrowth<\/a> #AlternativeFutures<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/xCVQZTTPzK<\/a><\/p>— Greenpeace International (@Greenpeace) January 15, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>