Wellbeing: a common approach

“What is missing is a means of making sure that wellbeing issues are being tackled consistently, in the right way, and we are genuinely making a difference to people's lives.” - UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy, Securing the Future (2005)

The issue of wellbeing lies at the heart of sustainable development.

Following commitments in Securing the future in 2005, the Sustainable Development Unit has commissioned research and is working across Government and with stakeholders to develop national wellbeing indicators and a shared understanding of wellbeing for policy.

On 22nd May, the Sustainable Development Commission and Defra’s Sustainable Development Unit invited stakeholders from many, varied backgrounds to participate in a cross-Government working conference to help develop indicators and a common approach.

The day included:

Download a detailed agenda here

Session 1: Wellbeing Indicators
• Keynote speech by Ian Pearson MP (Defra Minister of State for Climate Change and the Environment)
• Professor Paul Dolan (Imperial College London) on wellbeing influences and measures
• SDC Commissioner Professor Jan Bebbington on ‘Living Well – within limits’
• Stephen Hall from Defra Environmental Statistics on the development of national wellbeing indicators

- Presentations from Session 1 (PDF)
- Handout from Session 1 (PDF)
- Continue the debate in our online forum
(includes summary of discussions from the day)

Session 2: Developing a Common Approach
• Presentations on wellbeing policy within government from East Midlands Development Agency, Department for Education and Skills, Department for Work and Pensions, Department of Health and the Scottish Executive
• Julie Newton from Defra Sustainable Development Unit on developing a common approach to wellbeing policy

- Presentations from Session 2 (PDF)
- Handout from Session 2 (PDF)
- Continue the debate in our online forum
(includes summary of discussions from the day)

Session 3: Wellbeing & Sustainable Development
• Nic Marks (New Economics Foundation) on wellbeing and sustainable development
• SDC Commissioner Professor Tim Jackson presenting the SDC’s project on redefining prosperity

- Presentations from Session 3 (PDF)
- Handout from Session 3 (PDF)
- Continue the debate in our online forum
(includes summary of discussions from the day)

Download Defra wellbeing research:

Influences on personal wellbeing and its application to policy – download
International evidence of the effectiveness of wellbeing focused policy interventions - download
Exploration of the relationship between sustainable development and wellbeing (A) - download
Exploration of the relationship between sustainable development and wellbeing (B) - download
Wellbeing: international policy interventions - download (annex)

Download Sustainable Development Commission reports:

Redefining Prosperity - download
Redefining Progress Consultation report - download
SDC position on wellbeing indicator ‘Living well – within Limits’ - download