Happiness needn't cost the earth

There's a new way of measuring the international pecking order. Typically, countries rankings are represented by their Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is a measure of national income. This figure is also proportional to the amount that a country consumes resource to generate trade, so there is clearly an environmental impact associated with this measure.

However, nef (the new economics foundation) have come up with a better way, a Happiness Index, that aims to show the environmental efficiency by which countries produce long and happy lives.

As you can imagine, things look very different on this ranking. For example, the UK is a disappointing 108th and the USA fares still worse at 150th on the Index (out of 178 countries, where the data is available). It does show that the targets that governments use to denote success do not make for good happiness levels. High levels of consumption do not create well-being. A consumerist view promotes a more materialist culture, and people covet possessions and status, and not health, peace and longevity.

The report goes on to show that overall we are over-burdening the Earth’s currently available biocapacity: By consuming 22 per cent above our ecosystems’ ability to regenerate we are eating into and degrading the natural resources that our life-support systems depend on. In the process we are depleting the environmental goods and services that future generations will depend on, with potentially devastating consequences.

In light of my recent reading material (see below), I am determined to reduce my ecological footprint. Knowing about the the impact of our individual actions gives us a duty to reduce our consumption levels. Since I am the market, I can effect change on corporations. However, legislative measures are more likely to make good practice stick. The report concludes with a Global Manifesto, which deems that improving well-being is bought about by:

• Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger
• Supporting meaningful lives
• Identifying environmental limits and design economic policy to work within them.

But of course, the proof of the pudding is in the tasting. Measures must be changed to reflect the real status of countries. The G8 countries all score low in the happiness index; the people in these countries overconsume, live unhealthier and shorter lives, and on average don't live less meaningful and happy lives.

Book Review: A Life Stripped Bare by Leo Hickman

I decided 3 years ago that I would attempt to recycle all the waste that I can, and it has not always been that convenient, to be honest. I was vaguely aware of some of the other ethical issues, such as farming methods, but didn't have too many ideas about how to address them from a personal standpoint. I looked at the front cover of this book, and the sub-title "my year trying to live ethically", and I was interested in what easy steps I could take, and to learn in what other ways I could be "ethical".

Leo Hickman was also concerned; as a consumer journalist for the Guardian, he decided to get in some ethical auditors to examine his life-style, the products he buys and the daily practises he follows with his wife Jane, and family of two. After rifling through every cupboard in his house, there were a range of scathing criticisms of everything, from concerns about excessive packaging, on the use of toxins, on waste management, and supporting global companies who themselves have questionable ethics. Rather than feel pressured to adopt them all, the book is a diary of how bit-by-bit, he decides to balance convenience with ethics, and change certain aspects of his life slowly. We hear about him struggling with washable nappies with his newborn child, how he sets up a wormery to process biodegradable waste, and how he manages his travel without a car at his disposal.

It takes a far from preachy tone .. he uses the auditors as a mechanism to indicate the correct approach, then uses his opinions (cleverly counterpointed with those of his wife Jane) to strike a life balance. Rather, the account more takes an inspirational standpoint, and includes loads of letters from Guardian readers who offer their support, and share their experiences with him. Of course, some of these tips are really easy to implement, and the reader can't help but run a mini mental audit on themselves at the same time. It is the case that once some of the impacts of certain practises are known, it is impossible not to feel a duty to change (in some degree) the way one's life is led.

It is thought-provoking, inspirational, and gives details of things I hadn't hitherto considered. It has made a small change already .. I tend to only look for locally grown (UK at least) organic produce, because of the impact of food miles on the environment. This has opened my eyes to what is seasonal, something I'd long lost sight of ("what do you mean, asparagus doesn't grow all year round?"), and makes supermarket selection much easier. I recently went around Marks and Spencer, and from all the fresh produce, only two things were sourced from the UK: Organic Rhubarb, which had run out, and asparagus. Tomatoes, strawberries and even potatoes were sourced from Spain, Holland and Africa unnecessarily, since they are in season as I write, and grow perfectly well in this country.

As a description of one man's journey into trying to live a better life, Leo Hickman doesn't take himself too seriously. He tries where he can, but readily admits his failures. As an encouragement to take a small step towards reducing your environmental footprint, while recognising that convenience will still triumph in many cases, it is an interesting tale. 7/10

You can buy it here.