#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!
Jane Davidson both as a Government representative and later as Environment Minister for Wales, elegantly wrought the Future Generations Act into every aspect of Welsh life and more importantly opened the door for others to follow the same route, providing as she went the solid footholds on the slippery slope of vested interests and career management inherent in any and all aspects of government. The book is written with great personal warmth and compassion for those who were to both endure the changes in future management and for those who would benefit from it.
From my own personal interests of having people understand the importance of healthy soil and the connections between source-separation of materials, recycling and local reprocessing, this book is the light to the future. There have been times in the management of resources, meaning soil, water, air, metals and plastic, over the past 40 years, where one could have stopped at many points along the road and rightfully asked: "Well, what have we achieved?" - and while the answer then might have appeared to be 'little', the answer in the future will be: "A great deal". The overarching nature of the Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act, means that it will impact on every aspect of life from energy and water to park management to bottle tops. The benefit of having such as Act is the power it has in law, for under such law, National Governments of any stripe are compelled to comply with the needs of future generations and the wording of the Act.
For the moment, the effects of this Act may not yet be rattling your bones, but in the future you shall feel the effects. The combined forces of the governments of Wales, Scotland, Iceland and New Zealand have now formed a cross-hemisphere affiliation titled the Well-Being Economic Alliance as a platform which of need, will build upon the Well-Being of Future Generations Act. This movement will hopefully build rapidly to encompass more governments and governance building the protection of future generations into legislation around the world.
We may well look back to this small book as being the starting point, the 'smoke under the door', of a revolution which will build our world back to sanity and balance, with an economy focussed on people and children. It is a great read - do not underestimate its importance!