(Post-growth) Welfare Coalition

The Well-being Coalition is a long-term initiative aimed at balancing Estonia’s neoliberal and techno-optimist policies, steering them towards reducing inequality and enhancing the well-being of all.

The goal of establishing the coalition is to increase the collective impact of organizations dedicated to human and environmental well-being, ensuring that well-being becomes a higher priority than economic growth in Estonian policymaking. Members: Estonian associations acting in the public interest across the environmental, social, and economic spheres, whose core activities directly or indirectly contribute to improving the well-being of people and/or nature.

Establishing the coalition is a logical next step following these earlier activities:

• The five key areas for reducing poverty and inequality identified by the nationwide "Good Life" citizens' assembly held in early 2026 (based on the global Earth4All "turning points").

• The outcomes of the autumn 2025 conference "Life in Post-Growth Estonia" and the vision for a post-growth Estonia.

Potential coalition activities:

• finding common ground in public messaging

• finding common ground in advocacy work (including awareness-raising)

• launching and implementing joint projects and initiatives

• communicating new narratives to the public

• increasing collaboration with researchers

• establishing a well-being advisory council to the government

In the autumn of 2026, we will organize three meetings with civil society organizations to find common ground and define the focus and activities of the well-being coalition for the coming years. Concurrently, we will seek funding for the long-term coordination of the coalition.

Contact: Teele Pehk, teelepehk@gmail.com