Minister Sarkkinen attends seminar on Economy of Wellbeing and OECD roundtable discussion on effects of COVID-19 on wellbeing
Minister of Social Affairs and Health Hanna Sarkkinen will attend two international meetings on the Economy of Wellbeing this week. On Wednesday 24 November, Finland, together with the OECD and other partners, will organise a seminar on the role of the Economy of Wellbeing in the European recovery. The seminar will be take place in hybrid form in Brussels. On Thursday 25 November, a virtual event will be held to launch a new OECD report which explores the immediate implications of the pandemic for people’s lives and wellbeing in OECD countries.
The seminar on the Economy of Wellbeing to be held on 24 November is a continuation of the work started during Finland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union to promote the Economy of Wellbeing. The seminar is titled “Building on the Economy of Wellbeing: How to promote a resilient and sustainable recovery in Europe?”, and it will be organised through cooperation between the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Permanent Representation of Finland to the European Union, the OECD Centre on Well-being, Inclusion, Sustainability and Equal Opportunity (WISE) and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. The aim of the seminar is to seek ways of promoting the Economy of Wellbeing through EU policy measures. Minister Sarkkinen will deliver the opening speech at the seminar.
“Climate change, declining biodiversity and the overconsumption of natural resources are among the most critical issues facing humanity. Solving the sustainability crisis will require prompt, systemic changes in society. The objective is a socially just and equitable transition for all people. Finland’s ambition is to become the first carbon-neutral welfare state in the world. Promoting the Economy of Wellbeing is one central approach for this necessary systemic change,” says Minister Hanna Sarkkinen.
The OECD WISE Centre was launched in 2020, and it deals with matters related to the Economy of Wellbeing, inclusive growth and sustainable and equal development. On Thursday 25 November, an event will be held to launch the WISE Centre’s report “COVID-19 and Well-being: Life in the Pandemic”. The report explores the implications of the pandemic for people’s wellbeing. In connection with the event, a high-level roundtable discussion will be held, which Minister Sarkkinen will attend.
The economy of wellbeing means analysing, measuring and developing the mutual interaction between the economy and wellbeing and, based on these, making political decisions. The economy of wellbeing is based on the idea that people’s and the planet’s wellbeing is at the heart of economic policy.
Inquiries:
Jiri Sironen, Special Adviser to the Minister, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 40 4509 077, [email protected]
Päivi Saarimaa, Secretary to the Minister, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 2951 63535, [email protected] (requests for interviews with the Minister)
Sarita Friman, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 2951 63349, [email protected]
Juuli Hakulinen, Specialist, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 295 163 651, [email protected]
Elina Häkkinen, Specialist, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 295 163 119, [email protected]