From indigenous wisdom to a plan for a new Wales, the Well-being of Future Generations Act was passed as a people’s law in 2015.
Wales’ commitment to the well-being of future generations takes inspiration from indigenous wisdom and the Seventh Generation Principle. Learn how the indigenous Wampis people in Peru are fighting climate change.
Since the Well-being of Future Generations Act was passed in 2015, several other countries across the world are acting in the interests of the not-yet-born.
The approach calls for a new mindset and gives us the ambition, permission and legal obligation to improve our social, cultural, environmental and economic well-being.
Shifting to future generations thinking requires a culture change. To do it, there are seven goals to act as a guide, five ways to help people to get there and 50 ways to check we’re on track.
Future Generations Chair
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“in a manner which seeks to ensure that the needs of the present are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Under the Well-being of Future Generations Act, public bodies, including our local authorities, health boards, national parks and others, must carry out sustainable development.
The WFG Act defines Sustainable Development as:
“The process of improving the economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales by taking action, in accordance with the sustainable development principle, aimed at achieving the well-being goals.”
It sets out five ways of working needed for public bodies to achieve the seven well-being goals. This approach provides an opportunity for innovative thinking, reflecting the way we live our lives and what we expect of our public services.
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As part of achieving sustainable development, the WFG Act sets out seven well-being goals which public bodies must maximise their contribution to, both individually and as part of a public services board. The Act makes it clear the listed public bodies must work to achieve all of the goals, not just one or two.
An innovative, productive and lowcarbon society which recognises the limits of the global environment and therefore uses resources efficiently and proportionately (including acting on climate change); and which develops a skilled and well-educated population in an economy which generateswealth and provides employment opportunities, allowing people to take advantage of the wealth generated through securing fair work.
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A nation which maintainsand enhances a biodiverse natural environment with healthy functioning ecosystems that support social, economic and ecological resilience and the capacity to adapt to change.
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A society that enables people to fulfil their potential no matter what their background or circumstances (including their socio economic circumstances).
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A society in which people’s physical and mental well-being is maximised and in which choices and behaviours that benefit future health are understood.
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A society that promotes and protects culture, heritage and the Welsh language, and which encourages people to participatein the arts, and sports and recreation.
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A nation which, when doing anything to improve the economic, social, environmentaland cultural well-being of Wales, takes account of whether doing such a thing may make a positive contribution to global well-being.
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To help public bodies achieve the sustainable development principle, they should use the Five Ways of Working set out in the WFG Act.
The importance of balancing short-term needs with the needs to safeguard the ability to also meet long-term needs.
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Considering how the public body’s well-being objectives may impact upon each of the well-being goals, on their objectives, or on the objectives of other public bodies.
The importance of involving people with an interest in achieving the well-being goals, and ensuring that those people reflect the diversity of the area which the body serves.
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Acting in collaboration with any other person (or different parts of the body itself) that could help the body to meet its well-being objectives.
How acting to prevent problems occurring or getting worse may help public bodies meet their objectives.
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To measure progress against the WFG Act, there are 50 national indicators.
To assist in measuring progress, Welsh ministers must set milestones in relation to the national indicators.
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To ensure public bodies in Wales are on the right track, the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales and Auditor General for Wales also monitor and assess their progress.
