Edited by: Mirian Vilela, Rick Clugston, and Deeksha Aggarwal
A new open-access book, Envisioning and Evaluating Our Contributions to Planetary Well-Being through the Lens of the Earth Charter, was launched this week, offering a timely exploration into how we can assess and inspire meaningful contributions to the health of our planet through a narrative of our contributions to Planetary Well-being.
Bringing together 20 chapters authored by contributors from diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and regions, this volume provides a rich tapestry of perspectives on Planetary Well-being. Each contributor was invited to reflect on their perspective of Planetary Well-being and on how countries and institutions can measure their contributions to the well-being of the planet, guided by the values and principles of the Earth Charter.
This thought-provoking collection offers not only theoretical insights but also practical examples – laying the groundwork for the development of future tools and indicators that could help individuals, communities, and nations align their decisions with the broader goal of planetary well-being.
Published by the University for Peace and Earth Charter International, this open-source book invites readers to engage with critical questions:
- What is required for Planetary Well-being?
- How can we measure the contributions of countries to Planetary Well-being?
- How can we inspire decisions and actions that prioritize the health of the planet?
- Which Earth Charter values and principles – and their associated indicators – can guide such measurements?
We will soon organize a webinar to foster dialogue on this topic.
In the book introduction, Rick Clugston says, “Creating a more just, sustainable and peaceful future requires that countries go beyond GDP to include indicators which measure the extent to which their development path fosters planetary well-being. We hope this book will encourage efforts to create new metrics through the lens of the Earth Charter.”
According to Mirian Vilela, “What sparked out interest was the vision of a new instrument, probably in the form of an Index, that could draw the attention of leaders, policymakers, and citizens on how much their country, or countries in general, contribute or not to Planetary Well-being. Making these contributions visible, measurable, and more explicitly comparable could eventually inspire decisions aimed at moving the needle in a positive direction.”
Deeksha Aggarwal shared that “Working on this book made me reflect on the collective vision of planetary well-being. It reminded me that our choices, be it individual, institutional or national, can and must align with the values envisioned in the Earth Charter, for a harmonious future.”
You are invited to download the book, use and share it.
