Final International Conference of the EU funded WISER Horizon project: “Happiness and Sustainability”
September 9-11, 2026, University of Siena, Italy
Is it possible to reconcile the economy, environmental sustainability, and human well-being? A widespread view holds that the ecological transition will inevitably require sacrifices that may reduce individual well-being. Policies aimed at reducing emissions, limiting consumption, and transforming production systems are often portrayed as costly in terms of quality of life.
But is this necessarily the case? Can insights from studies on well-being help identify pathways toward an economy that is both environmentally sustainable and conducive to human well-being?
This conference aims to explore the relationship between happiness and sustainability from an interdisciplinary perspective. It seeks to bring together scholars working in economics, sociology, psychology, political science, environmental studies, and related fields to address a central question: can we design institutions, policies, and lifestyles that simultaneously enhance well-being and respect planetary boundaries?
Findings from the WISER Project suggest that a positive answer is possible. A growing body of research suggests that beyond a certain threshold, increases in income and consumption yield limited gains in well-being, while generating substantial environmental costs. Factors such as social relationships, trust, meaningful work, and access to public goods play a crucial role in shaping life satisfaction—often with a much lower ecological footprint. At the same time, the patterns that have generated growth across the past half century have undermined the foundations of human happiness—eroding social connections, weakening communities, and displacing the sources of a meaningful life. These WISER findings raise the possibility that a reorientation of economic systems toward well-being may also support sustainability.
The conference welcomes both theoretical and empirical contributions, as well as policy-oriented analyses.
Possible topics include (but are not limited to):
- The relationship between income, consumption, and subjective well-being
- Well-being and environmental behavior
- Well-being impacts of climate and environmental policies
- Sustainable lifestyles and life satisfaction
- Social capital, community, and ecological sustainability
- Inequality, well-being, and environmental outcomes
- Urban design, public spaces, and quality of life
- Work, time use, and well-being in sustainable economies
- Alternative indicators of progress beyond GDP
- Policy frameworks for integrating well-being and sustainability
- Cultural and institutional determinants of sustainable well-being
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION
Submission Guidelines
Authors are invited to submit an abstract (max 300 words) or a full paper. Submissions should clearly state the research question, methodology, and main findings (if available).
Please send the abstract to wiserconference26@gmail.com
The following information must be included:
- Title of the presentation
- Name of the presenter (underlined, also in the submitted abstract) / Co-author(s)
- Presenter’s affiliation