Yet inequality between the world's rich and poor continues to grow, both between and within countries. Extreme weather events are more frequent and severe, and adapting to changes in climate is now a reality. Demand for natural resources is increasing and contributing to the degradation of the environment. food and oil prices set new records and acute debt crises cascade through the global economy.
Resolution 65/309 welcomed the offer of Bhutan to convene a panel discussion on happiness and wellbeing and invited member states to pursue the elaboration of additional measures that better capture the importance of the pursuit of happiness and wellbeing in development with a view to guiding their public policies.
On the 2nd April, 2012, the Royal Government of Bhutan convened the High-level Meeting on Wellbeing and Happiness: Defining a New Economic Paradigm. More than 800 participants including political and government leaders, representatives of governments, international organizations, civil society organizations, media, and business, as well as leading economists, scholars, academics, and spiritual leaders from the world's major faiths participated in the proceedings. The full programme is attached as a PDF below.
The High-level Meeting included an inaugural session that was chaired by H.E. Ms. Helen Clark, administrator, United Nations Development Programme and former Prime Minister of New Zealand. The Prime Minister of Bhutan, H.E. Mr. Jigmi Y. Thinley, delivered the opening address on the mission and purpose of the meeting. UN Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon delivered the inaugural address, and supportive statements were delivered by the President of the 66th Session of the UN General assembly, H.E. Mr. Nassir abdulaziz al-Nasser, and the President of the Economic and SocialCouncil, H.E. Mr. Milo Koterec. H.E. Ms. laura Chinchilla, President of the Republic of Costa Rica, delivered the keynote address.
Following the inaugural session, the meeting proceeded with panel discussions on four themes: well-being and happiness, ecological sustainability, efficient allocation of resources, and fair distribution. a total of 20 panellists delivered remarks across these four dimensions if the new economic paradigm, including Ms. Michelle Bachelet, Under Secretary-General and Director of UN Women and former President of Chile, Professor Joseph Stiglitz, Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Venerable Matthieu Ricard, lord Richard layard, Professor Robert Costanza, and Dr. Vandana Shiva.
Following a working lunch, Dr. Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director of the European Environment Agency, moderated the afternoon session. it began with a video message from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, prepared specially for the High-level Meeting. This was followed by interactive discussion with participants. The first part of the session was oriented toward gathering views from the participants on the four dimensions. The second part of the session concentrated on interventions intended to build links across the themes and to move towards action to build the new economy.
The meeting closed with a concluding statement on the next steps by H.E. Mr. Jigmi Y. Thinley, Prime Minister of Bhutan, followed by concluding prayers by spiritual leaders of the Hindu, Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist faiths.
More than two hundred of the 2nd of April participants continued discussions on the 3rd and 4th of April in order to advance the outcomes of the High-level Meeting and to begin creating concrete implementation plans. These follow-up meetings were structured around four working groups: Experts and Scholars, Communications, Planning, and Civil Society and Spiritual leaders.
On the 4th of April, all four working groups convened in plenary sessions that were chaired by the Prime Minister of Bhutan. These plenary sessions provided an opportunity for each of the working groups to report on key outcomes, strategies, and recommendations, and to coordinate with each other.