ToBe Research

📅 Mark your calendar for 5 September! Join us for an online policy dialogue entitled: 🌟 Planning for the future: Lessons in sustainable policymaking from past and current economies 🌟 ⏰ 10:00-12:00 CEST This event will feature insights from top experts, including government and UN officials as well as academics, who will explore post-growth and long-term focused approaches to policymaking; in the context of historical and contemporary cases of industrial policies with a strong emphasis on social and ecological aspects.   Key topics will include: 🔹 Drawing on the lessons learned by the implementation of Wales’ 'Well-being of Future Generations Act’ 🔹 Yugoslavia’s historical experiences of long-term, environmentally-conscious industrial policymaking and its impact in Slovenia today 🔹 Efforts undertaken on a UN level to agree on a Pact for the Future, in light of the upcoming UN 'Summit of the Future'   🔗 Don't miss out and register here: https://bit.ly/3MuitCE #ToBeProject #SustainableDevelopment #PolicyDialogue #FutureGenerations

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Discover more on the EVP for Wellbeing and Future Generations in the #advocacy #paper co-written by the consortium coordinators and policy leads of five Horizon Europe research and innovation projects here: https://lnkd.in/dVfxhdvi

The collaboration of ToBe Research with 4 other European Projects resulted in this publication! 💥 Do not miss it 👀

🌿 5th and last chapter of our first policy brief: Transformative policy options consider different policies together 🌍 Sustainable transformation requires understanding the interplay of different policies in people’s lives and society. It's crucial to see how policies converge, as their combined effect can drive or hinder progress. Indeed, to overcome growth dependencies and enable states and local governments to provide wellbeing across Europe, transformative indicators and models are essential tools. Therefore, aiming to provide guidance in this direction, ToBe researchers Liisa Häikiö and Tuuli Hirvilammi from Tampere University have developed a first set of recommendations for desirable policy options supporting sustainable wellbeing and economic alternatives: 1️⃣ Environmental policies need social policies: Traditional social protections, like social insurance and assistance, mitigate poverty impacts of environmental taxation, enhancing societal resilience during climate change mitigation. 2️⃣ Universal basic services support societal change: Ensuring access to health care, education, housing, and other essentials stabilises society, reduces vulnerabilities, and increases resilience. Protecting and expanding these services is vital for sustainable wellbeing. 3️⃣ Sufficiency policies for fair solutions: These policies aim to reduce the demand for high-impact goods and services, achieving resource savings and promoting wellbeing within planetary boundaries. Local policies can support innovative, community-based solutions that help address locally defined needs in a socially just and ecologically sustainable way. Together, these transformative policy options can lead to a more balanced and sustainable development path, fostering resilience and wellbeing for all. 🙌 If you have not yet read the full paper, we invite you to do so here ➡ https://bit.ly/43TnBrz #SustainableWellbeing #TransformativePolicies #SocialProtection #UniversalBasicServices #SufficiencyPolicies #PolicyMaking

📚 New publication alert! 📚 "A European agenda to navigate uncertain times: How to steer the EU towards wellbeing for all, now and in the future" This paper comes at a time of uncertainty, including geopolitical tensions, rising living costs, inflation, increasing inequalities, climate and biodiversity crises, polarisation, and an aging society. These factors contribute to widespread anxiety about the future, especially among younger generations. The contribution of economic growth to wellbeing is decreasing and the benefits of growth are not being shared equitably. Recognising that European companies are aware of the need for change, this publication emphasises the urgency of developing a consistent long-term vision for the EU. Indeed, the policy agenda of the new European Commission will need to address these complex challenges if it aims to create a sustainable and equitable future for all. In light of this, this new advocacy paper, co-authored by our MERGE sibling projects SPES Sustainability Performances, Evidence & Scenarios, ToBe Research, WISE Horizons and WISER aims to help the new European Commission in this task. Luckily, there is no need to start from scratch: The Commission can build on an existing body of governance, measurement frameworks, policies, legislation and good practices in the EU and from around the world. 🌎 🔎 Read more about how to steer the EU towards wellbeing, now and in the future here: https://bit.ly/3xV5rdz #WellbeingEconomy #EuropeanGovernance #EUPolicy #FutureGenerations #HorizonEurope #SustainableGrowth #PolicyAgenda

⏳ Chapter 4️⃣ of our first policy brief presents ToBe criteria for transformative indicators! Policy and decision-makers often rely on GDP to gauge societal progress. However, sustainable development indicators provide a broader perspective, highlighting progress toward the SDGs. These indicators, although institutionalised, haven't yet balanced GDP-based decision-making. To address this, systemic macro-economic models are essential. Initial findings from ToBe reveal that current models focus too narrowly on climate change and economic indicators, lacking biophysical limits and basic needs considerations. Fundamental ecological systems, such as biodiversity and soil quality, are underrepresented. The first results from ToBe define traits of transformative indicators through three criteria: 1️⃣ Theory: Aligns with our sustainable wellbeing framework and interconnected needs. 2️⃣ Statistical quality: Must match traditional indicators in accuracy, robustness, and clarity. 3️⃣ Impact: Should drive sustainability transformation, considering policy, culture, and societal values. Transformative indicators are not uniform; they need to be adaptable and context sensitive. By involving diverse stakeholders in their development, these indicators can truly reflect societal values and priorities. With a nuanced understanding of these indicators, policymakers can create holistic policies that promote sustainable development, balancing economic growth with ecological and social wellbeing. 🌿 #Sustainability #WellbeingEconomy #TransformativeIndicators #SystemicChange #PolicyMaking #SustainableDevelopment

🌟 From June 18-21, many members of the ToBe consortium attended the Conferencia Internacional ESEE-Decrecemento 2024 Pontevedra 🌟 This conference presented a fantastic opportunity to discuss sustainable futures beyond growth. Sessions presented by ToBe researchers included: 🗣️ An interactive session on Wellbeing Economy organised by Tuuli Hirvilammi and Milena Buchs, exploring the promise of the wellbeing economy in the post-growth context. This session included presentations on: ▪ Discourses on the wellbeing economy in international organizations’ policy documents (Tuuli Hirvilammi from Tampere University) ▪ Drivers and Barriers for transforming towards wellbeing economies (Milena Buchs Büchs from University of Leeds) ▪ The power to transform structures: political economic challenges for a post-growth wellbeing economy (Richard Bärnthaler from University of Leeds) This was followed by a lively discussion on the extent to which the wellbeing economy can be considered a post-growth idea and who the main allies or supporters of a post-growth aligned wellbeing economy approach are. 🗣️ Imagining Post-Growth Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Futures, chaired by Daniel W. O'Neill (University of Leeds): this session included a presentation on post-growth and artificial intelligence. 🗣️ Challenging Dominant Values, Ideologies, and Imaginaries chaired by Riina Bhatia, from VTT, was a session featuring presentations by herself and Javier Cuestas Caza, from Escuela Politécnica Nacional, on Convivial Technologies in the context of Decolonial thought. In other sessions, ToBe consortium members presented findings on topics such as: 💡 Examining public support for eco-social policy and redistribution (Daniel W. O'Neill and Milena Buchs) 💡 Toward universal basic services? Insights from alternative economic approaches in local and national initiatives (Alessia Greselin from Tampere University, Milena Buchs, and Laura Angresius from Universitat de Barcelona) 💡 Drivers and barriers to transformational policymaking: Empirical findings from government-led alternative economic initiatives across Europe (Laura Angresius, Milena Buchs, Alessia Greselin, and Daniel W. O'Neill) 💡 Rethinking Transformative Innovation Policy in the Context of Post-Growth (Riina Bhatia and Tuuli Hirvilammi) Overall, the conference underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative thinking to drive sustainable development and equitable economic transformation. 🤝 🌸 We are grateful for the opportunity to attend and present the research conducted in the framework of our project, as well as for being able to connect and learn from link-minded practitioners and academics. We hope to continue to create spaces where we can have these vital conversations and work towards a sustainable future, where wellbeing is placed at the center! 🙌 #Sustainability #PostGrowth #ESEE2024 #WellbeingEconomy

✨ Final insights from the Time ToBe Blooming series ✨ Concluding the last webinar, Marlien Herselman, Chief Researcher at the CSIR, and Nina Rilla, Senior Scientist at VTT, shared experiences from their field visit to green growth projects in South Africa, focusing on food security. Two notable cases were addressed: 1️⃣ The Fresh Life Produce initiative in Cape Town, which uses vertical hydroponics to transform low-income communities into urban agriculture producers, addressing food insecurity and promoting local entrepreneurship. 🌽 2️⃣ The Jwale Cooperation in Limpopo Province, which employs aquaponics, combining fish farming with hydroponic crop production, to provide sustainable food solutions and empower rural communities to establish small-scale farming businesses. 🐟 Marlien Herselman highlighted the challenges faced in rural areas, such as youth migration to cities for better services and the corruption that limits rural access to basic amenities. These issues underscore the importance of ICT for development, aiming to improve access to basic needs in rural areas. Let us learn from the examples presented in this webinar and listen to alternative voices of development, placing community-driven approaches to sustainable wellbeing in the centre! 🌱🤝 We thank all of you for your participation and valuable insights! 🙌 Did you miss the session? Don't worry! You can watch the recording here 👉 https://bit.ly/3z7UIN9 #SustainableWellbeing #FoodSecurity #CommunityEmpowerment #WellbeingEconomy #RuralDevelopment

🌟 Unveiling insights from the third and last webinar of the Time ToBe Blooming series! 🌟 💬 Michel Campos Director of the Commission of Human Talent at Habitar Colectivo, shared inspiring insights into indigenous community-driven initiatives in Ecuador. Examples of wellbeing economy initiatives in the Global South were the following: 🌿 UNORCAC: a union of 48 communities promoting development with identity, food sovereignty, education, and health. 💧 SUMAK YAKU: a community-based non-profit organisation that provides drinking water services to its communities, fostering unity and environmental care. ⚖ UNCISA: Supporting nine communities in San Rafael de la Laguna, promoting tourism, culture, and conflict resolution through indigenous principles. These initiatives emerged from the communities, driven by strong cultural identity, self-sufficiency, and environmental conservation. Despite facing challenges like limited municipal support and financial constraints, they continue to promote community wellbeing through sustainable practices. 🌱🤝 #SustainableWellbeing #CommunityLeadership #WellbeingEconomy