A Well-being Society
A Wellbeing society is “committed to achieving equitable health now and for future generations without breaching ecological limits.” It “provides the foundations for all members of current and future generations to thrive on a healthy planet.”
There are several key points in this definition that are, in effect, the core principles of such a society.
First, it is about making the wellbeing of people and the planet the central focus and purpose of society.
Second, it is about equity, ensuring everyone gets a fair shake, has an equal opportunity to live a life of wellbeing.
Third, it is about extending the principle of equity to future generations, ensuring that our actions to day do not deny them the means to live a life of wellbeing.
Fourth, it is about doing all this within the Earth’s planetary boundaries, its ecological limits, which also means respecting the rights and needs of ecosystems and other species.
Finally, it is about re-imagining a system and process of governance that is consistent with these intents, where governance is “the sum of the many ways individuals and institutions, public and private, plan and manage the common affairs of the city” (UN Habitat, 2002) - or in this case, the society.
In the Canadian context, these principles must be applied to governance at the provincial and local levels, as well as at the national level.
What is Well-being?
“a positive state experienced by individuals and societies. Similar to health, it is a resource for daily life and is determined by social, economic and environmental conditions. Well-being encompasses quality of life and the ability of people and societies to contribute to the world with a sense of meaning and purpose. Focusing on well-being supports the tracking of the equitable distribution of resources, overall thriving and sustainability. A society’s well-being can be determined by the extent to which it is resilient, builds capacity for action, and is prepared to transcend challenges.”
(Health Promotion Glossary, World Health Organization, 2021).
“The presence of the highest possible quality of life in its full breadth of expression focused on but not necessarily exclusive to: good living standards, robust health, a sustainable environment, vital communities, an educated populace, balanced time use, high levels of democratic participation, and access to and participation in leisure and culture.”
Missing from this definition of wellbeing, it should be noted, is the concept of equity; everyone in a society or community should have an equal opportunity to achieve wellbeing. This requires everyone having the basic determinants of wellbeing: Food, shelter, clean air and water, education, safety and an adequate income.
