Aileen McLeod on her time at the Wellbeing Economy Forum in Iceland
Last month I had the privilege of going to Iceland to attend the Wellbeing Economy Forum - an annual conference hosted by the Icelandic Directorate of Health in partnership with Iceland’s Government and the Wellbeing Economy Governments network (WEGo).
Since its launch in June 2023, I have been a keen supporter of the Wellbeing Economy Forum. It’s an important platform that brings people together from across the world and the only forum focused on the wellbeing economy.
This year, as I left behind a sunny Scotland and travelled to a snowy and wet Iceland, I was struck again by the pivotal moment we face right now in building a wellbeing economy in Scotland. A wellbeing economy is one that delivers social justice on a healthy planet. It’s a powerful vision of a Scotland where everyone can thrive.
The Scottish Government used to be considered a world leader in the wellbeing economy movement. It was one of the founding members of WEGo, a partnership that was recognised with the first ever wellbeing award at the forum in Iceland.
While some progress has been made, Scotland is now falling behind on an agenda the rest of the world is waking up to. At the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland (WEAll Scotland), we are concerned to see the Scottish Government retreating and falling back on an outdated economic model.
Our current economic model, that relentlessly prioritises maximising economic growth at all costs, is a recipe for societal and planetary disaster. The drive for growth has not, and will not, deliver fair or sustainable outcomes.
Yet, we are seeing a doubling down of the relentless focus on GDP growth at all costs, short term profit maximisation over long-term societal wellbeing. The power and control of the economy increasingly lies in the hands of the wealthiest few.
At the same time, we have rising and deepening levels of poverty, growing inequality, and we are crossing safe environmental thresholds. We must pause and ask ourselves: what are we growing and at what cost?
We are heading down a dangerous road. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
In Iceland, I was once again inspired and came home reinvigorated in campaigning for change. A different route for Scotland is possible. Across the world, there is a growing momentum behind the wellbeing economy agenda as international support and interest increases.
The wellbeing economy is the most important and relevant agenda of our time. It responds to the interlinked crises and challenges we face. It delivers lasting change.
As we head towards an election year, it's essential to get Scotland on track. We all have a role to play in ensuring the wellbeing economy approach is high on the political agenda. At WEAll Scotland, we are working with our members to develop policy solutions that are relevant, practical, doable and deliverable. We remain committed to campaigning for systemic change even in difficult times
Aileen McLeod is director of Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland (WEAll Scotland).
Main image shows Aileen with Michael Weatherhead and Lisa Hough-Stewart from WEAll Global at the forum.
