I’m pleased to share with you my Annual Report for 2025-26, which highlights the progress made over the past year in advancing the Well-being of Future Generations Act and delivering my seven-year strategy, Cymru Can. 

This summer’s heatwaves have brought the realities of climate change closer to home, reinforcing why Wales needs the Well-being of Future Generations Act: to ensure short-term decisions do not compromise the well-being of generations yet to come. 

My central focus continues to be to support public bodies to apply the WFG Act more effectively and increasing involvement in decision-making, ensuring communities help shape the future of Wales.  

My team and I provided expert advice on 492 occasions; our training and development sessions achieved high satisfaction levels of 6 out of 7; and 86% of stakeholders surveyed reported a positive impression of the Commissioner and team.  

We expanded Hwb Dyfodol, (Wales’ futures and foresight hub), to more than 90 members. 

The publication of my Future Generations Report in 2025 has already led to measurable change.  

• More than half of the report’s recommendations have now been accepted or adopted by public bodies.  

• Every Public Services Board in Wales is now undertaking climate change risk assessments, compared with only half before the report.  

• There has also been a 38% increase in public bodies becoming Real Living Wage accredited, helping tackle in-work poverty and improve financial security for workers and families.  

You can find a summary of the responses to my Future Generations Report recommendations here.  

Improving involvement has been another priority as I continue to work with communities, the voluntary sector and public bodies to strengthen participation in decision-making. This work will grow through the development of Cymuned Cymru Can, a Wales-wide community of future generations champions, which I will launch later this year. 

Across my mission areas, I have continued to support practical change: 

• Climate and Nature: Our work has helped strengthen action on community energy, clean rivers and climate adaptation. 37 public bodies have already adopted or accepted our recommendation for greater collaboration with communities in the development of local energy schemes.
   

• Health and Well-being: 32 public bodies have committed to mapping preventative spending, supporting a greater focus on prevention and long-term health outcomes.
   

• Culture and Welsh Language: Our work has helped move culture higher up the public policy agenda in Wales, contributing to Welsh Government commitments to explore a new Culture Act, strengthen cultural provision, and recognise culture as a core contributor to well-being and thriving communities
   

• Well-being Economy: We have supported Corporate Joint Committees to embed the WFG Act in regional decision-making, promoted the contribution of social enterprises to thriving local economies, increased the number of public bodies becoming Real Living Wage accredited and encouraged a culture of repair and reuse.  

I am also proud of our impact this year on food policy. Our advocacy and practical support helped secure a Welsh Government commitment to a national food strategy, increased participation in Welsh Veg in Schools from six to 18 local authorities, and encouraged 15 councils to develop local food resilience plans.  

-Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales