Beyond GDP – how can we measure progress?

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a universal but crude measure of a country’s economic activity and output. But it takes no account of the appreciation or deprecation of a country’s building infrastructure, or of the condition of its natural capital (land, soils, the diversity of plants, animals and life) and the ecosystem services provided by the environment (such as crop pollination). 

Furthermore, GDP is no measure of the health, wealth, or wellbeing of a country’s population, or how these are distributed across society. 

While GDP remains the most important measure for international financing, alternative measures are needed for sustainable development. What alternatives account for the wellbeing of the environment and local people, providing indicators for investing in a green economy?

Watch the debate

A panel of leading experts chaired by Richard Black, the BBC's environment correspondent, will discuss the issues and answer some of your questions. Your questions and comments will form an important part of the debate.

Watch the live debate online on 22 February 2012 at 19:00 GMT

Organised in partnership with British Council and Stakeholder Forum for a sustainable future, in support of Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development.