Since the turn of the century, books on happiness and well-being have been a publishing phenomenon; organizations promoting happiness have appeared; a school of psychology devoted to human flourishing was founded; Bhutan pioneered the concept of “gross national happiness.” Happiness is essential, it’s true. But can humans pursue happiness in consonance with caring for the planet? The Happy Planet Index is a tool for measuring and focusing efforts to align happiness with what our Seventh Principle states: Respect for the Interdependent Web of Existence.

Statistician Nic Marks asks why we measure a nation’s success by its productivity — instead of by the happiness and well-being of its people. He introduces the Happy Planet Index, which tracks national well-being against resource use (because a happy life doesn’t have to cost the earth). Which countries rank highest in the HPI? You might be surprised.