2015 年、英国ウェールズで「未来世代のためのウェルビーイング法」が制定されました。 現世代の利益だけでなく、未来世代の幸福をも政策決定に組み込む世界初の法律です。その 立法過程を担った元大臣ジェーン・デイヴィットソンが、自らの体験を交えながら語り尽く した記録『未来のために今日行動する―ウェールズ発「未来世代のためのウェルビーイング 法」ができるまで』をフリーライターの吉田千亜さん（『ルポ 母子避難』、『孤塁：双葉郡消 防士たちの 3・11』著者）にご紹介いただきます。
本書は、ウェールズが世界ではじめて、2015 年に誕生させた「未来世代法」が、どういう プロセスを経て作られていったのか、その地道な取り組みの歴史を紐解き、私たちにヒント をくれる本だ。
それだけではない。著者のジェーン・デイヴィットソンが、自然をいかに愛しているか、と ころどころに散りばめられた豊かな描写によって知ることができる本でもある
In 2015 Wales, UK passed into law the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act. This is the first legislation in the world to incorporate the well-being of future generations alongside the interest of the current generation in policy decisions. Jane Davidson, a former minister who oversaw that legislative process wrote a book “Acting today for future —– The journey to Wales’ Well-being of Future Generations Act” a record recounted in full detail, interwoven with personal experience. Chia Yoshida, a freelance journalist and author of "Mother and Child Evacuation" and “Isolated stronghold: 3.11 for firefighters of Futaba-gun” will introduce the book.
This book unravels the history of the painstaking efforts that went into creating the Future Generations Act, the world's first legislation enacted in Wales in 2015, offering valuable insights for all.
2025年10月、ジェーン・デイヴィッドソンは日本語版『#futuregen』（『未来のために今日行動する』）の発売を祝し、ワクワクしながら来日しました。日本版の制作は「NPO未来世代のための市民委員会」代表のきら（河合史惠）さんの並外れた努力による主導のもと、加藤紗代さんが楽しみながら誠実に翻訳しました。今回の来日は、持続可能性と未来世代への責任を法制度に組み込むという本書の理念が、新たな層へ広まる重要な節目となりました。
来日中はブック・ツアーと、東京・大阪・京都、その他地域で、読者・研究者・政治家・政策立案者と交流しました。小さな国であっても、未来志向の大胆な立法で世界的な変化を牽引できることに対する国際的な関心の高まりを反映するものでした。ジェーンは5週間にわたり日本各地で講演し、大阪・関西万博や在東京英国大使館をはじめ、あらゆる場所での好意的な受け止めに、大きな喜びを感じました。
Ym mis Hydref 2025, roedd Jane Davidson yn gyffrous iawn i deithio i Japan i ddathlu cyhoeddiad Japaneaidd #futuregen, prosiect a arweiniwyd gan y rhyfeddol Fumie Kawai (Kira), cydlynydd y CCFG, gyda’r cyfieithiad wedi’i arwain gan y swynol a’r hynod amyneddgar Sayo Kato. Roedd yr ymweliad yn nodi eiliad bwysig i’r llyfr, wrth i’w syniadau am wreiddio cynaliadwyedd a chyfrifoldeb tuag at genedlaethau’r dyfodol mewn deddfwriaeth gyrraedd cynulleidfaoedd newydd.
Roedd y daith yn cynnwys taith lyfr a chyfleoedd i gwrdd â darllenwyr, academyddion, gwleidyddion a llunwyr polisïau yn Tokyo, Osaka a Kyoto a’r cyffiniau, gan adlewyrchu’r diddordeb rhyngwladol cynyddol yn y modd y gall gwledydd bach arwain newid byd-eang drwy ddeddfwriaeth feiddgar sy’n canolbwyntio ar y dyfodol. Treuliodd Jane bum wythnos yn ymgymryd ag ymrwymiadau siarad ledled Japan, ac roedd yn falch iawn o’r croeso cadarnhaol i’r syniadau ym mhobman yr aeth — gan gynnwys Expo Osaka a Llysgenhadaeth Prydain yn Tokyo.
With speakers at the Kinouniya Bookstore event. (Ms. Yoko Kobori, Ms. Izumi Morita, Mr. Michimasa Oe President of Akashi Shoten, Jane, Kira, Prof. Jusen Asuka)
Lecture at the Welsh Government Office, British Embassy in Tokyo
In October 2025, Jane Davidson was excited to travel to Japan to celebrate the Japanese publication of #futuregen, a project led by the extraordinary Fumie Kawai (Kira), the coordinator of the CCFG, with translation led by the delightful and ever patient Sayo Kato. The visit marked an important moment for the book, as its ideas on embedding sustainability and responsibility to future generations in legislation reached new audiences.
At Himeji castle (twinned with Conwy Castle), with Himeji City officials
The trip included a book tour and opportunities to meet readers, academics, politicians and policymakers in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto and their environs, reflecting the growing international interest in how small nations can lead global change through bold, future-focused legislation. Jane spent 5 weeks undertaking speaking engagements across Japan, and was delighted at the positive reception to the ideas wherever she went, including at the Osaka Expo and the British Embassy in Tokyo.
Lecture at Kyoto University coordinated by Prof. Shimamura Takeshi and Prof. Masako Ichihara, The Environment and Law Unit, The Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of Law and Policy, the University of Kyoto Graduate School of Law
With Mr. Toma Yamazoe, mayor of Yosano Town, Kyoto Prefecture
She was also particularly pleased to follow up on a couple of existing Welsh connections - a longstanding partnership between Aberystwyth and Yosano town where she met students in Yosano Town who she then met again on her return to Wales when they came as part of a regular exchange to Aberystwyth. Also, she was delighted to witness the very special nature restoration work done by the CW Nicol Afan Woodland Trust in the Nagano prefecture, in partnership with the Afan Forest team in Wales.
With students selected for an exchange programme in Aberystwyth.
Jane would like to thank everybody involved in making her visit so memorable - her Home Exchange hosts for their friendship and support, the amazing team behind the book, her Japanese publisher at Akashi Shoten, all the young people who told her their hopes for the future, the parliamentarians and others who gave time to discuss the ideas and a very special thank you to Yoko Kobori who arranged everything!
Panel discussion at the Osaka EXPO (Derek Walker, Wales Future Generations Commissioner, Maher Nasser, Commissioner-General of the United Nations at Expo 2025, Jane, Kira, Erina Imai, moderator and climate activist)
The images displayed here on Jane’s website were chosen to reflect the values of Wales’ most advanced political and cultural change: The Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act of 2015. The images visually connect with themes established in #futuregen her new book, presented here is our visual arts practice seen through the lens of the exciting new Act.
Leaving Art School in 1979 and throughout our professional careers, we have been lucky to be exposed to a wide range of influences and some amazing individuals, like the great German artist Joseph Beuys, whose works with nature, folklore and Germany’s recovery after World War II helped us understand the primacy an artist’s role can play in society: their social agency. Another influence on us, was the work of UK’s Artist Placement Group (APG).
The blog is back after a month’s gap – a rather strange COVID and climate affected month in which we have seen the best harvest (following that very warm May) and the worst winds and rain we’ve ever seen in August which led to much of our apples, pears and walnut harvest ripped from their trees before time. We’ve successfully incubated 6 new Aylesbury ducklings – who like teenagers are itching to be let out - and have new pigs and turkeys. The garden is looking fantastic, but our annual party is cancelled and we are in fact currently in self isolation. We’ve seen more visitors than ever before to our usually quiet corner of beautiful west Wales with traffic bedlam as small roads leading to dead ends do not lend themselves to passing or responsible carparking.
#futuregen is a 'must read' for any person struggling with the environmental protection of future generations. This book details the buildup to the development of the Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act which became law in 2015. It is a lesson in strategic planning, positioning and management for anyone who has struggled with any level of governance and attempts to make any form of change in a strong field of very vested interests. You may not have heard of this Act as yet, but you will!
This week, it is a very varied group. The Vice Chancellor of my own university, Prof Medwin Hughes, opines that ‘A creative, sustainable future requires us to seek the truth and curate a narrative that will allow others an opportunity to reshape humanity for the better’. He is followed by another university colleague, Barry Liles, who chairs the Carmarthenshire Public Services Board (PSBs)– the new statutory partnerships required by the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act. Dr Oliver Balch, journalist, is as excited by the opportunities as I am; ‘A country that is fit for future generations is something that every citizen can unite around, something every community can pursue, something every school can pass on to its pupils. Instil that narrative in the heart of every citizen and the Act is already halfway delivered.’. But, as I’ve found to my cost, over the years, the ambition and engagement can be there, but delivery still needs leadership and community participation ; a view clearly articulated by Victoria Watkins, from Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law, Swansea University. Finally, this week, the eponymous Mal Williams, from the Zero Waste International Trust lays out clearly how the Zero Waste agenda contributes to all the Act’s goals. Enjoy.
This week, we hear some wide-ranging views from Jake Elster Jones, a sustainability focused researcher who sees the opportunity for the Act as providing ‘more appropriate tools, approaches and ways of thinking – and sets a new purpose – for the systems we work in.’ Eifion Williams, CEO of Circular Economy Wales, sees the Act as an opportunity to build resilience, as ‘resilient communities are not only in control of their resources, but also their food and energy systems and of course the wealth that all this activity generates.’ Simon Hoffman, from the Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law, Swansea University sees the opportunity for ‘human rights outcomes as the ultimate expression of progress on well-being in Wales would not only strengthen the WFGA, it would also bring additional coherence to public policy. Catriona Williams, CEO of Children in Wales, while supporting the act in principle, also sees ‘ one major challenge and that is how not to lose the child-rights approach of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child within the ‘all age’ structure of the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act’. This theme of rights is continued further with the contribution from Helen Dale, Coordinator, Lleisiau Bach, Little Voices which works with young people of primary school age who calls for a ‘national representation of younger children’s views to contribute as citizens in Wales on issues that affect them.’
This week we hear from 3 people who have also been involved closely with the development of the agenda in Wales, through their day job: Mari Arthur and Rhodri Thomas, both from Cynnal Cymru/Sustain Wales, and Michael Palmer, who led on the work in the Wales Audit Office and who also spent time seconded to the Future Generations’ Commissioner’s office. They are champions who have clear ideas about next steps.
Today, we hear from some of the most significant contributors to the debate over the whole period: Alan Netherwood who has tracked the sustainable development agenda in Wales from its onset and is still doing so; Anne Meikle and Jessica McQuade from WWF, the most significant individual contributor organisation to the Welsh journey, particularly from its publication of the visionary ‘One Planet Wales’ in 2007 and George Marshall from Climate Outreach who undertook the first national environmental narratives project of its kind - now replicated around the world - developing a bilingual toolkit of distinct Welsh narratives and images for sustainability and climate change to support the legislation. Finally, last but very much not least, the eponymous Andy Middleton, who has challenged me and others at every available opportunity to do more and faster.
Please forgive this standard introduction to people who are coming new to my blog for the first time. I intend to use my website as a repository for information linked to my #futuregen book, so hopefully it will become a resource to campaigners and activists as well as policy professionals and parliamentarians. The book itself contains the links to documentary resources covering the journey from the start of the National Assembly in 1999 to the passing of the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act in 2015 and its subsequent implementation.
I intend to use my website as a repository for information linked to the book, so hopefully it will become a resource to campaigners and activists as well as policy professionals and parliamentarians. The book itself contains the links to documentary resources covering the journey from the start of the National Assembly in 1999 to the passing of the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act in 2015 and its subsequent implementation. Each of my blogs will put full quotations from contributors into the public domain. I will notify the specific contributors when this happens and feed back to you directly if I receive any comments linked to your contributions.
It’s happened. 4th June has passed and I can legitimately call myself an author. #futuregen is now at the mercy of the book-buying public but helped enormously on its way by all those who contributed (140 of you) and the number of events and publications about it in the week running up to its launch which I am reliably informed by the organisers exceeded 10,000. A big thank you to the Hay festival, The Bookseller, Business Wales, Tortoise Media, RSA, SOIF, Big Issue, A Great Read, IWA, i magazine, Network News, Cardiff University, University of South Wales and my own University of Wales Trinity Saint David for maximising its exposure.
Confident of cross-party support across both The House of Commons and the House of Lords, I am bringing a Future Generations Bill to the UK Parliament. In imitation of the Welsh Well-being of Future Generations Act, and inspired by Wales’ example, I am convinced it is the most useful piece of legislation imaginable. It is inspiring because it brings the future forward to today.
Hopi Indians of North America believe that “before you take any action, meditate for a moment and think, ‘what will be the impact of your action on the seventh generation to come?’ If the answer is positive and if in your heart you genuinely think that your action will be beneficial to the seventh generation then act.
The primary reason for setting it up this website at this time is in advance of the publication of my new book - #futuregen: lessons from a small country which is being published by Chelsea Green on 4th June this year. You will find all the information you need – indeed with the zealousness of a new, untried and untested author, undoubtedly more than you need - on this site.
