By Jennifer Lance •
July 7, 2009
Positive ecology and being happy complement one another when it comes to the Happy Planet Index (HPI). The HPI was developed by the New Economics Foundation (nef), and Costa Rica tops the charts as the happiest, greenest country on planet Earth.
By Lucille Chi •
July 7, 2009

The New Economics Foundation tells us that “as the G8 prepare to meet in Italy this week, the second global ranking of the ecological efficiency with which the world’s nations deliver long and happy lives for the people who live there - the ‘Happy Planet Index‘ - reveals a surprising picture of the relative wealth and progress of nations.”
The Happy Planet Index 2.0: “Why good lives don’t have to cost the earth” shows that Costa Rica scores number one at the top of the Happy Planet Index 2.0 as the ‘greenest and happiest’ country with Latin America toping the Index overall. Out of 143 nations surveyed, the USA ranks 114th and the UK 74th.