Caroline Lucas MP, Kate Raworth, economist and author of Doughnut Economics, and Richard Benwell, Chief Executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, teamed up for this online event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the children’s book The Lorax, where they explore how our obsession with economic growth (biggering) is destroying nature and what we can do about it.

We urgently need the Government to prioritise the health and wellbeing of people and the planet, by pursuing a Wellbeing Economy approach. To deliver a sustainable and equitable recovery, the Treasury should target social and environmental goals, rather than fixating on short-term profit and growth.

Our narrow focus on GDP growth has led us to environmental, health and financial crises. The UK is the 6th largest economy in the world, yet roughly a third of our children live in poverty. Two-thirds of the public want the Treasury to put wellbeing above growth. Scotland and Wales are already part of the Wellbeing Economy Governments alliance. As host of the COP26 climate summit, the UK Government should build and champion a Wellbeing Economy - at home and globally.