Jane Davidson - #futuregen: Lessons from a Small Country

PRAISE FORFUTUREGEN

Be inspired by this fascinating story of how Wales made into law the obligation for a country to pursue sustainable development on behalf of future generations.

GRO HARLEM BRUNDTLAND , former Prime Minister of Norway and Director-General of the World Health Organization

The very definition of sustainable development embodies the need to ensure the well-being of future generations and yet, until Wales in 2015 enacted its Well-being of Future Generations Act, no country had passed legislation to look ahead and give itself the ambition, permission and legal obligation to improve social, cultural, environmental and economic dimensions of well-being for current and future generations. Jane Davidson was a pioneer in pushing forward Waless pathbreaking Future Generations Act, blazing a trail for the rest of the world, and WWF was delighted and honoured to support her on that journey. Decision-makers everywhere should read her book to understand the importance of putting future generations at the heart of all they do and the actions needed to make that a reality.

PAVAN SUKHDEV , President, WWF International

A truly pioneering Act that puts sustainability at the heart of every governmental decision combined with a country seeking to reimagine itself the story of this revolutionary engine for change holds enormous possibility and is a true beacon of hope.

MICHAEL SHEEN OBE, actor and UNICEF ambassador

As the effects of climate change and ecological degradation become ever more apparent it is not despair that must drive us, but action. Jane Davidsons wonderful #futuregen tells the inspiring story of how one country stepped up with just that a groundbreaking new law to protect the interests of future generations. For those searching for hope, this is a must-read.

TONY JUNIPER CBE, Environmentalist

Once at the forefront of the industrial revolution, Wales now leads the world in the sustainability revolution. At the intersection of sustainability, economics, law, morality and politics, the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act enshrines the responsibility of a government to take care of its citizens, especially the vulnerable, and extends that responsibility to those who are the most vulnerable because they do not yet have a voice the generations as yet unborn. In #futuregen , Jane Davidson, its chief architect, relates what inspired this groundbreaking Act and what impact it has had in the five years since it was passed. Politicians are not generally noted for their long-term, upstream thinking. Influenced by systems thinker Donella Meadows, Jane Davidson is an inspiring exception and has earned the gratitude of generations both future and current.

ROZ SAVAGE MBE, ocean rower and sustainability advocate

Please give this book to the sons and daughters of our leaders, then ask them to give it to their parents. Maybe they wont make the change needed for the people who voted them in, but they might just do it for their children.

DAVID HIEATT , co-founder, Hiut Denim Co. and The Do Lectures; author

#futuregen

Lessons from a Small Country

JANE DAVIDSON

Chelsea Green Publishing

White River Junction, Vermont

London, UK

Copyright 2020 by Jane Davidson.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form by any means without permission in writing from the publisher.

Project Manager: Sarah Kovach

Project Editor: Jon Rae

Developmental Editor: Muna Reyal

Copy Editor: Laura Jorstad

Proofreader: Angela Boyle

Indexer: Nancy Crompton

Designer: Melissa Jacobson

Printed in the United Kingdom.

First printing May 2020.

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Our Commitment to Green Publishing

Chelsea Green sees publishing as a tool for cultural change and ecological stewardship. We strive to align our book manufacturing practices with our editorial mission and to reduce the impact of our business enterprise in the environment. We print our books and catalogs on chlorine-free recycled paper, using vegetable-based inks whenever possible. This book may cost slightly more because it was printed on paper that contains recycled fiber, and we hope youll agree that its worth it. #futuregen was printed on FSC-certified paper supplied by CPI books.

ISBN 978-1-60358-960-4 (hardcover) | ISBN 978-1-60358-961-1 (ebook) | ISBN 978-1-60358-962-8 (audiobook)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.

Chelsea Green Publishing

85 North Main Street, Suite 120

White River Junction, VT 05001

Somerset House

London, UK

www.chelseagreen.com

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated posthumously to

Rhodri Morgan, whom I first met in 1983 as the Labour candidate for the parliamentary seat of Cardiff West. Rhodri was a man both charismatic and kind; for whom I worked in his constituency office and in Parliament for five years; with whom I bicycled and walked and laughed and debated. He helped forge my conviction politics; he brought me into his first cabinet in 2000 when he became First Minister of Wales; and he always believed in me and trusted me to deliver law and policy for current and future generations.

Morgan Parry, whom I met in 2007, then director of WWF in Wales, a gentle advocate with steely resolve; even more delighted by my new responsibilities as Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing than I was and determined to help me make the most of the opportunity. Morgans influence on me was profound because he lived his values and taught me to do the same. He worried about his and Wales carbon footprint, acted accordingly and challenged the rest of us to act commensurately.

Both were cruelly wrenched from their families before their time, but their influence lives on. Without either of them there would be no story to tell.

CONTENTS

Our inherent short-termism and [the] inability of individuals to act effectively for the future on their own is why legislation to reflect future generations interests is required in all countries.

Tony Juniper, CBE, environmentalist

We the citizenry through our elected members have allowed the existence of corporations of limited liability to come into being without any effective way of auditing the impact of corporations on the common wealth. Were every corporation to have to give one golden share to the people via their government, which came with the obligation on its auditors to measure every possible impact on that common resource, we would have few environmental problems today as purpose and ethics would have triumphed over greed unmastered and the moral compass could be reset.

Some of my friends tell me Im a dreamer, but Im not the only one join us!

Tim Smit, founder, Eden Project, Cornwall

The glory of the Welsh Act is that it was never just a law. It is the essence of culture. It glows through the social bloodstream of the nation, energising and recreating itself through the pores of everyday life.

Tim ORiordan, Emeritus Professor, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, and Fellow of the British Academy

The eyes of all future generations are upon you.

And if you choose to fail us, I say we will never forgive you.

GRETA THUNBERG , 2019 UN Climate Action Summit