Drawing inspiration from the article published in Nature on August 23, 2020, (link above) it becomes clear that addressing some of the most pressing global challenges is not only feasible but also surprisingly affordable. According to the article, implementing the Paris Agreement—an ambitious but critical framework for mitigating climate change—would cost just 1% of global GDP annually. Furthermore, achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a comprehensive blueprint to eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all, would require merely 5% of global GDP per year.
In this context, it is particularly meaningful to reflect on the legacy of S.L. Mansholt, whose portrait is featured above. Mansholt, a visionary Dutch politician and former Vice-President of the European Commission, is widely recognized for proposing the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) in 1972 as an alternative to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This forward-thinking idea sought to measure a nation's progress not solely by its economic output but by the well-being and happiness of its citizens—a metric that feels especially pertinent as we confront an apocalyptic climate emergency.
Mansholt, a Dutch politician and former Vice-President of the European Commission, is also credited with coining the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) in 1972 as an alternative to GDP—a notion particularly relevant amidst today's apocalyptic climate emergency. This urgency is underscored by Frans Timmermans, EU Executive Vice-President, who recently warned that future generations, including his own grandson, may have to fight for basic necessities like water and food.
The gravity of our current predicament is echoed in the recent words of Frans Timmermans, the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President, who sounded an alarming warning about the future. In a poignant reflection, he revealed his fear that his grandson—and others of his generation—may be forced to fight for essential resources such as water and food, a stark reminder of the tangible human cost of environmental and societal inaction.
