This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Shift to a Wellbeing Economy: put the health of people and planet first
We urgently need the Government to prioritise the health and wellbeing of people and planet, by pursuing a Wellbeing Economy approach. To deliver a sustainable and equitable recovery, the Treasury should target social and environmental goals, rather than fixating on short-term profit and growth.
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A narrow focus on GDP growth has led us to environmental, health and financial crises. The UK is the 6th largest economy in the world, yet roughly a third of our children live in poverty. Two thirds of the public want the Treasury to put wellbeing above growth. Scotland and Wales are already part of the Wellbeing Economy Governments alliance. As host of the COP26 climate summit, the UK Government should build and champion a Wellbeing Economy - at home and globally.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Government responded
This response was given on 25 May 2021
While traditional economic measures such as GDP remain important, the government is committed to broadening the range of measures it uses, including by better accounting for natural and human capital.
Traditional economic measures, such as GDP, remain some of the most useful indicators of economic performance. GDP is closely correlated with employment, incomes and tax receipts and is comparable across time periods, making it useful for the government and Bank of England when setting economic policy and managing the public finances. During the current COVID-19 pandemic for example, GDP, along with a wide range of other economic indicators, has been used to inform government action aimed at mitigating the damaging effects of the pandemic on peoples’ wellbeing by supporting their jobs and livelihoods.
Nonetheless, the government recognises that GDP has its limitations and should not be seen as an all-encompassing measure of welfare – in fact this is something that GDP was never designed to be.
Sir Charles Bean’s 2016 Independent Review of Economic Statistics acknowledged some of GDP’s limitations, such as the challenge of capturing activities where no market transaction takes place and the fact that GDP estimates make no allowance for the depletion of natural resources that may be inherent in many forms of economic production. The full report can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/507081/2904936_Bean_Review_Web_Accessible.pdf
The government fully supported the recommendations of the Bean review and, to date, has provided the ONS with an additional £25m to help improve UK economic statistics - including through an initiative called “Beyond GDP” that aims to address the limitations in GDP by developing broader measures of welfare and activity.
This includes developing a suite of personal well-being measures, better accounting for unpaid work and developing estimates for natural and human capital. More information on this initiative can be found here. https://blog.ons.gov.uk/2018/10/01/beyond-gdp-how-ons-is-developing-wider-measures-of-the-uk-economy/
As a result of this work, last year the UK became one of the first countries to publish natural capital accounts and these are now included in the UK National Accounts Blue Book. The ONS has also started to publish human capital accounts.
Additionally, recognising that protecting and enhancing our natural assets is crucial to achieving a sustainable, resilient economy, at Spring Statement 2019 the government commissioned an independent, global review on the economics of biodiversity. The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review was published in February and represents a strong example of UK thought-leadership on an important environmental issue with clear – but often overlooked – economic consequences. The government is currently examining the Review’s findings – including the options it sets out relating to improving measures of economic success to account for the goods and services derived from the natural environment – and will respond formally in due course.
As well as considering the metrics used to inform decision making, the government is also taking action directly to protect and enhance the natural world. For example, the recent Spending Review settlement increased Defra’s budgets by almost £1 billion. This will allow them to do more to harness the power of nature in the fight against climate change - and connect people with green spaces - by planting trees, restoring peatland, creating habitats, and investing in National Parks. This includes support to implement flagship Environment Bill measures including biodiversity net gain for development, new environmental targets, and the Office for Environmental Protection, which will provide annual independent reporting on the implementation of the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, setting out what the government will do to improve the environment within a generation. The plan can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/25-year-environment-plan
Furthermore, as COP Presidency this year, the UK is seeking to increase global climate action and environmental protection. By doing so, we are working to ensure that the recovery from COVID-19 is both sustainable and equitable and to propel the long-term transition to a net zero, resilient and environmentally sustainable global economy.
HM Treasury
Related activity
UK biodiversity report published by MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee
The Environmental Audit Committee has published its report on 'Biodiversity in the UK: bloom or bust', which calls for the Government to conserve and restore UK biodiversity and ecosystems.
The report is published amid grave concern that of the G7 countries, the UK has the lowest level of biodiversity remaining.
The MPs on the Committee found that existing Government policy and targets were inadequate to address plummeting biodiversity loss. This is made worse by nature policy not being joined up across Government, nor is nature protection consistently factored into policy making.
Some key recommendations made by the Committee include:
- The Government must establish a timetable to put management plans and monitoring in place for all Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), with different categories of destructive bottom trawling banned or restricted. More MPAs should be established as 'no-take' zones
- In the next Spending Review, greater funding must be given to Natural England which reflects its responsibilities and tasks.
- The Government should commission a review identifying and tracking public expenditure harmful to biodiversity. Once identified, Ministers must act to remove harmful subsidies and re-direct money to nature conservation and recovery.
- Tree planting should not occur on peat soils
- Education on biodiversity must increase: a Natural History GCSE should be introduced and investment in skills should be increased for chartered ecology and associated disciplines.
Read an interactive summary of the report:
https://houseofcommons.shorthandstories.com/uk-biodiversity-bloom-or-bust/index.html
What happens next?
The Government now must respond to the Committee's report, which was published on 30 June 2021, within two months. The Committee will publish the Government’s response here: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/62/environmental-audit-committee/
What is the Environmental Audit Committee?
The Environmental Audit Committee is a cross-party group of non-Government MPs who look into how Government policies and departments contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development.
Follow the Committee on Twitter for updates on its work:
https://twitter.com/CommonsEAC
The Environmental Audit Committee is a select committee. Find out how Select Committees work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c
Government respond to report on prioritising the climate and nature in post-covid recovery
The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) published the Government's response to their report, "Growing back better: putting nature and net zero at the heart of the economic recovery."
In its report the EAC put forward a number of recommendations stressing the need for the economic recovery from covid-19 to be addressed in tandem with prioritising environmental priorities on climate change and nature recovery.
In a response to the report, the Government confirmed that the National Infrastructure Bank—set up to finance infrastructure projects across the UK—will be a public institution on a permanent basis. They have committed to reviewing the case for broadening the Bank’s mandate to include improving the UK’s natural capital, before bringing forward legislation to put the Bank on a statutory footing.
The Government response includes responses to the Committee’s recommendations on:
- Transport infrastructure and nature recovery
- Homes and energy efficiency
- Industry, particularly carbon border adjustments
- Investment in nature
- VAT reductions
- Green finance
Read a summary of the Government response:
https://committees.parliament.uk/work/306/greening-the-postcovid-recovery/news/156038/government-accepts-eac-recommendation-for-national-infrastructure-bank-to-be-permanent-with-possible-future-focus-on-nature-recovery/
Read the full Government response:
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5802/cmselect/cmenvaud/327/32702.htm
Read the Committee's report:
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5801/cmselect/cmenvaud/347/34702.htm
What is the Environmental Audit Committee?
The Environmental Audit Committee is a cross-party group of MPs who look into how Government policies and departments contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development. The Committee is independent of the Government.
Follow the Committee on Twitter for updates on its work:
https://twitter.com/CommonsEAC
The Environmental Audit Committee is a select committee. Find out how Select Committees work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c
MPs call on the Government to make the UK a leader in global biodiversity
MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee have published a new report on the UK's footprint on global biodiversity.
Read the report:
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5802/cmselect/cmenvaud/674/67402.htm
In the report, the committee said the Government must strengthen its own sustainable procurement policies, and it should be illegal for UK businesses to use deforestation-linked commodities, if the UK is to demonstrate global leadership to protect nature.
The committee also called on the Government to:
- Set an environmental footprint target by launching a consultation ahead of COP15 on how to model the overseas environmental impact of UK consumption.
- Conduct sustainability impact assessments for all future trade agreements.
- Increase sustainability within UK supply chains requiring all forest-risk commodities to be certified as sustainably produced.
What happens next?
The Government now must respond to the committee's report, which was published on 30 September 2021, within two months. The committee will publish the Government’s response here: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/62/environmental-audit-committee/
What is the Environmental Audit Committee?
The Environmental Audit Committee is a cross-party group of non-Government MPs who look into how Government policies and departments contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development.
Find out more about the committee on their website:
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/62/environmental-audit-committee/
Follow the committee on Twitter for updates on its work:
https://twitter.com/CommonsEAC
The Environmental Audit Committee is a select committee. Find out how select committees work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c
MPs to debate the wellbeing economy approach to meeting climate goals
MPs will hold a debate on the wellbeing economy approach to meeting climate goals on Tuesday 30 November in Westminster Hall. The debate will be led by Caroline Lucas MP.
The debate will start at 4.30pm and last for up to an hour.
Watch the debate: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Commons
You'll be able to read a transcript of the debate a few hours after it happens: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-11-30
This will be a general debate. General debates allow MPs to debate important issues, however they do not end in a vote nor can they change the law.
Find out more about how Parliamentary debates work:
https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/debates/
Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament
You can sign up to the UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference: https://learning.parliament.uk/en/your-uk-parliament-newsletter-sign-up-form/
Share your ideas for a debate on a Wellbeing Economy approach to meeting climate goals
On Tuesday, 30 November, Caroline Lucas MP will lead a debate in Parliament on a Wellbeing Economy approach to meeting climate goals.
To inform the debate, she wants to hear your ideas on what a wellbeing economy prioritise and how you think the Treasury’s economic priorities should adapt. She may quote your contribution directly during her debate.
Find out more and share your ideas with her here: https://ukparliament.shorthandstories.com/wellbeing-economy-approach-to-meeting-climate-goals/index.html
Videos of the debate, the transcript and other relevant material will be accessible shortly after the debate on this webpage.
The deadline for contributions is midday on Monday, 29 November.
What are Westminster Hall debates?
Westminster Hall is the second Chamber of the House of Commons.
Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Any MP can take part in a Westminster Hall debate.
Debates in Westminster Hall take place on ‘general debate' motions expressed in neutral terms. These motions are worded ‘That this House has considered [a specific matter]'.