Happiness 101: the connection between sustainability and wellbeing

An introduction to sustainable happiness.

Source: Unsplash

Due to the climate crisis that has already begun to alter our environment, health, economy and community, the connection between happiness and sustainability is more visible now than ever. As people continue their pursuit of wellbeing and happiness, the interdependence of sustainability and happiness should also be more emphasised. This relation is best reflected in Catherine O’Brien’s work, who coined the concept of “sustainable happiness”. O’Brien, a Canadian professor of education with work applauded worldwide, was invited to participate in the United Nations High Level Meeting in New York that explored the implementation of the UN Resolution on Happiness. As nowadays it is so easy to get caught up in the media’s portrayal of happiness as arising from material consumption, this relatively new perspective on happiness and sustainability is refreshing and heartening. 

What is sustainable happiness?

Catherine O’Brien, as I have previously mentioned, is the one who has developed the concept of “sustainable happiness”, with the intention of sparking conversations about the link between wellbeing, happiness, and sustainability. In her article titled “Happiness and Sustainability Together at Last! Sustainable Happiness”, she defines “sustainable happiness” as being “happiness that contributes to individual, community, and/or global well-being without exploiting other people, the environment or future generations.” 

Research 

Global warming has had disastrous consequences for the environment and when climate scientists are working tirelessly on finding solutions to the numerous repercussions of climate change, it may seem futile to bring positive psychology into the equation. However, researchers show that it could be part of the solution and there is compelling evidence that indicates that it still plays a key role. Victor Corral-Verdugo from the Department of Psychology at the University of Sonora at Hermosillo, Mexico, agrees, claiming that “the more pro-ecological, altruistic, frugal and equitable a person is, the more feelings of happiness they experience.” In turn, wellbeing is associated with having an increased tendency toward living more sustainably and having a reduced carbon footprint. 

This is backed up by further data-driven research as well. The 2020 World Happiness Report explores the relationship between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which measure various aspects of social, economic, and environmental development, and wellbeing. They use the SDG Index data, which indicates the extent to which countries have achieved the SDGs, and the Gallup World Data, a survey that among other things, asked people to evaluate the quality of their life. The results and the visualisation below are astonishing and clearly show how sustainable development is linked not only to helping the environment but also to improving mental health.

Source: World Happiness Report

Another interesting study worth looking into is The Happy Planet Index, which brings together variables, such as ecological footprint, wellbeing, life expectancy, and inequality of outcomes, in order to measure sustainable wellbeing. In their calculation, the most successful countries are those where people live longer and happier lives without being taxing on the environment. 

The climate change crisis is without a doubt a source of emotional distress, as many feel anger or helplessness as a result of the overwhelming negativity that surrounds the news about the environment. As I have mentioned in the previous paragraphs, happiness and sustainability go hand-in-hand. This is why taking control of the situation by educating ourselves on these issues and focusing on doing our part in relieving the climate crisis is crucial, not only to our planet but also to our mental health. 

Resources: 

https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/

This article is published as part of the Happiness 101 series, written by Pi Media columnist Sorana Bucseneanu.