Acting today for a better tomorrow

Since Wales took action to commit to the well-being of future generations, we have seen changes big and small.

There is still a long way to go, but ‘the Welsh way’ of doing things now means systems thinking, understanding and taking action on root causes, and involvement of people are a must.

Public bodies are maximising well-being, but businesses not covered by the legislation are, too, from Football Association of Wales to Bluestone National Park.

We have a new, progressive school curriculum with an emphasis on mental health and developing well-rounded ethically-informed citizens of Wales and the world, taught eco-literacy, and new qualifications to teach people to be planet stewards and a National Nature Service for Wales.

Transport is on a greener, healthier journey, from rejecting building new roads as standard, to a plan to increase public transport, walking, and cycling to 45% by 2045, and 20mph speed limits to keep communities safe.

The Act’s new way to define prosperity means we evaluate progress based on well-being, not GDP, so government and public bodies must, by law, deliver fair work and a low carbon society, which has led to a focus on social enterprises.

Wales is aspiring to be an Anti-racist Wales and a Nation of Sanctuary.

We’re helping to put the future on the map, influencing the UN and countries across the globe, accelerating action on climate change as the first nation and parliament to declare a climate emergency, ranking second in the world for recycling.

The understanding of the importance of arts in the role of health is growing, from Arts Council of Wales and NHS Confederation’s partnership, upskilling of NHS staff in arts within a health setting, to more social prescribing.

Food is one way Wales can really make a difference, and primary school children have free universal school meals – now let’s go further and make sure everyone can be fed in the future.

The commissioner’s office remains committed to food as a focus area, and is challenging Welsh Government to use the Well-being of Future Generations Act to create a fundamental shift in how we think about food.

In a polycrisis of health, poverty, nature and climate change, and as one in five people are hungry, disproportionately affecting more disabled, Black, Asian and minority ethnic people, we need a new food plan for Wales.