It is really hard to take seriously the idea of a happy planet. Is Earth happier than Mars? How would we know? Alternative measures of development calculate how happy, healthy and environment friendly a country is, not just its GDP. One such measure is the Happy Planet Index (HPI) devised by UK think tank New Economics Foundation. Its 2009 report uses data from 143 countries to see which are closest to sustainable wellbeing. Scores range from 0 to 100, with high scores reflecting high life expectancy, high life satisfaction and a low ecological footprint.
The index?s name is misleading because it?s actually about environmental sustainability relative to wellbeing i.e. how efficiently a country consumes resources. So, rich countries like the US, UK and Japan?with high HDI ranks?are poorly placed as per the HPI. Here, many of the highest ranking countries are ?third-world?, like Vietnam, Jamaica and Cuba.
The highest HPI scorer is Costa Rica (76.1) with the world?s highest life satisfaction and second-highest average life expectancy. Netherlands is the highest-placed Western nation at 43rd place. The UK ranks midway at 74 behind Germany, Italy and France. India is placed 35th while the US is down at 114th place. Among BRIC countries, Brazil and China are ranked higher at 9 and 20 respectively. Russia is a distant 108th.
Interestingly, OECD countries? HPI scores were higher in 1961 than in 2005. Life satisfaction and life expectancy combined have increased 15% over the 45-year period, but it has come at an earth shattering cost of a 72% increase in the ecological footprint per head. China, India and the US (all aggressively pursuing growth-based development models) have also seen their scores drop between 1990 and 2005.
India?s HPI lead over developed countries is no cause for celebration as over 25% of its population lives in dire poverty. Our ecological footprint is sparse because our poverty-stricken people can only enjoy sparse resources. For us, the pursuit of progress and growth is not optional but essential. Fortunately, green technology is available to reconcile these pursuits with sustainable wellbeing. Pursuing such technology must become our highest priority.
jaya.jumrani@expressindia.com
