Abstract
The growing recognition that happiness and well-being are intertwined with sustainability is leading to new opportunities for enhancing happiness and well-being, sustainably. The education sector has a critical role in advancing this work but has been slow to incorporate sustainability education and applications of positive psychology. The concept of sustainable happiness (happiness that contributes to individual, community and/or global well-being without exploiting other people, the environment or future generations) (O’Brien, 2010a) offers an innovative perspective to re-invigorate sustainability education and shape priorities for 21st century learning – contributing to resilient, sustainable happiness and well-being for all.
Highlights
Children growing up in North America over the last ten years are being immersed in a culture that is enthralled with happiness
Magazines, blogs and talks shows discuss the secrets to happiness, building on the research from positive psychology and happiness studies
Three decades ago, prior to the emergence of positive psychology, Bhutan’s king was ahead of the curve when he proclaimed that Gross National Happiness (GNH) is a more relevant indicator of wellbeing than Gross National Product
Summary
Children growing up in North America over the last ten years are being immersed in a culture that is enthralled with happiness. Thinley, hosted a high level meeting at the United Nations in New York on April 2nd, 2012 with 700 invited delegates who were convened to discuss a new economic paradigm for realizing a world of sustainable well-being and happiness (Royal Government of Bhutan, 2012). If every country had a similar Ecological Footprint to the USA, it would require four planets to meet this level of consumption This growing awareness that sustainability, happiness and well-being are intertwined takes the discussion of happiness (and sustainability) to new levels – with significant relevance both individually and collectively. It creates an interesting and important counterpoint to the portrait of happiness that has been associated with material consumption. The necessity for transforming education to play a leading role in sustainability education has never been more imperative
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