Roundtable on Future Generations and Institutional Design
How to reflect the interests of future generations in today’s decisions: what institutions, laws and methods can help us?
Monday 15 July 2024, 13.30-15.00 UK time (UTC 12.30-14.00)
Convenors: Sir Professor Geoff Mulgan (TIAL and University College London) and Professor Chris Taylor (SPARK and Cardiff University)
Summary of contributions (AI supported)
The meeting began with Geoff Mulgan highlighting the need to institutionalize the interests of future generations and the challenges of short-termism in politics and government. Jane Davidson discussed the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act in Wales, emphasizing the importance of engaging with future generations and advocating for effective consultative mechanisms to foster co-creation between the government and its citizens. Cat Tully from the School of International Futures discussed global practices related to future generations, highlighting examples from New Zealand, the global south, and the global north. Denis Naughten delivered a comprehensive perspective on the importance of long-term thinking in policy development, emphasizing the need for resilience, cross-border alliances, and collaboration to mitigate growing threats.
Roman Krznaric, a social philosopher based at Oxford University's Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, shared insights on four key concepts for institutional design to bring in the voice of future generations. He advocated for the creation of ministries for the future, commissions, citizens assemblies, and backsight units. Geoff Mulgan led a discussion on the global citizens assembly and its relationship to representative democracy, seeking input on how to incorporate young people's voices in a manner like Australia's approach to aboriginal voice.
Jane Davidson led a discussion on citizen involvement in decision making, proposing the exploration of mechanisms beyond citizens assembly models to achieve consistent and long-term outcomes. Derek Walker emphasized the critical role of public involvement in legislation in Wales, highlighting the need for ownership and delivery by the people.
The meeting also discussed the significance of legislation being bought into by the population and scrutinized by an independent commissioner to ensure focus on delivery. Furthermore, the challenges in communication and the need to make the long-term impact of legislation more relatable to people's current concerns were addressed. Roman discussed the role of law in representing future generations, citing examples from the United States and Pakistan.
Jane emphasized the importance of having laws as enduring and clear guidelines and discussed the role of the courts in interpreting and enforcing these laws. The meeting concluded with a discussion on the challenges of nested legislation conflicting with the interests of future generations and the need to address previous laws that may lead in the wrong direction.
Key themes
Introduction and Overview of Future Generations Act
Geoff Mulgan emphasizes the significance of institutionalizing the interests of future generations and the challenges of short-termism in politics and government. Chris Taylor introduces the speakers and outlines the structure of the session, emphasizing the importance of the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act in Wales.
· Finance and Public Budgeting for Future Generations
The Welsh Sustainable Development Act
Jane Davidson provides a detailed overview of the Welsh Sustainable Development Act, explaining its evolution from a duty to promote to a duty to deliver. She emphasizes the Act's unique elements, such as its alignment with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the accountability mechanisms for government and public services in Wales. Davidson also raises the importance of engaging with future generations and the need for effective consultative mechanisms between the government and its citizens.
Discussion on Future Generations and Global Practices
Jane Davidson highlights the need to consider diverse models for future generations, tailored to the specific context of different places. She emphasizes the importance of acting in a way that benefits future generations and mentions the upcoming UN timetable for defining its own envoy and making a declaration on future generations. Geoff Mulgan suggests that participants introduce themselves in the chat to guide the discussion later, and Chris Taylor introduces Cat Tully from the School of International Futures to discuss global practices related to future generations.
Activating, Sustaining, and Scaling Institutional Innovations
Cat presents insights from running a pioneer’s group of politicians and officials in 50 countries, highlighting the need for systemic institutionalization across technical, political, and community aspects. She stresses the importance of leadership engagement, political narratives, and accountability mechanisms, while acknowledging the difficulty of institutionalizing subversion in the context of long-term thinking and the need to connect governance reform narratives.
Long-Term Thinking in Policy Development
Denis Naughten stresses the significance of long-term thinking in policy development, advocating for the consideration of future generations and the implications of present decisions. He discusses the role of Parliament in sustaining long-term strategic thinking and the need for evidence-informed policy to address current challenges. Naughten also highlights the development of a toolkit within the Inter-Parliamentary Union to promote evidence-informed decision making and the importance of academic engagement in embedding this approach within the parliamentary system.
· Role of Parliaments in Representing Future Generations
Concepts for Long-Term Thinking
Roman Krznaric, a social philosopher from Oxford University, presents four concepts for institutional design to prioritize the voice of future generations. These concepts include the idea of humanity colonizing the future, being a good ancestor, cathedral thinking, and temporal intelligence, aiming to make the idea of caring about future generations convincing to politicians.
Institutions for Future Generations
Roman emphasizes the need for institutions to embody the voice of future generations, proposing the establishment of ministries for the future, commissions, citizens assemblies, and backsight units. He also suggests integrating long-term thinking mechanisms into the House of Lords reform, such as citizen assembly models and future design movements used in Japan. Additionally, he advocates for a minister for the future and emphasizes the importance of learning from history.
Global Citizens Assembly and Link to Representative Democracy
Geoff Mulgan initiates a discussion on the global citizens assembly and its connection to representative democracy, seeking input on how to integrate young people's voices. Denis Naughten highlights the significance of involving Parliament in the democratic process and institutionalizing mechanisms within the parliamentary system for effective outcomes, drawing from Ireland's experience with Citizens' Assemblies.
Discussion on Citizen Involvement in Decision Making
Jane Davidson presents the issue of citizen involvement in decision making, advocating for mechanisms that go beyond citizens assembly models to achieve consistent and long-term outcomes. She highlights the radical impact of citizens assemblies and stresses the importance of engaging young people in the democratic process. Additionally, she shares her work on Wales Net Zero 2035 and the partnership with the Wales Youth Parliament for peer-to-peer consultation and engagement.
· Involvement of Citizens in Decision Making
Importance of Public Involvement and Legislation in Wales
Derek Walker underscores the importance of public involvement in legislation in Wales, stressing the need for ownership and delivery by the people. He also discusses the significance of legislation being bought into by the population and scrutinized by an independent commissioner to ensure focus on delivery, while also addressing the challenges in communication and the need to make the long-term impact of legislation more relatable to people's current concerns.
Role of Law in Representing Future Generations
Roman shares examples of legal organizations advocating for the constitutional right to a clean climate for future generations. Jane emphasizes the importance of having laws as enduring and clear guidelines and discusses the role of the courts in interpreting and enforcing these laws. Geoff raises the issue of the Supreme Court's role in land actions and the impact of political appointments on court decisions.
· Importance of Legislation in Protecting Future Generations
Final thoughts on priorities
Jane Davidson – make it real for people now, utilise the institution of the family as a device to show how the now connects with the past and the future
Derek Walker – importance of (a) having an independent champion for future generations, that can challenge government and government agencies etc, (b) reporting to Parliament (as opposed to Government), and (c) of replacing the person in this role every seven years
Denis Naughten – the role of Parliaments is crucial and that they are given resource and encouragement to look into the future when holding Governments to account
Cat Tully – importance of building foresight capabilities for decision-makers, and the related importance of evidence-informed policy-making
Roman Krznaric – make sure you identify things that can be done tomorrow, and the importance of small steps to fostering a focus on future generations (e.g. having a future generations chair in political forums to remind everyone of their importance)
