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 for 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.
Last time, we heard 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, 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’ and looks at the essential role played by universities in this effort, noting that while time is not on our side, ‘The quest for a sustainable future for those yet to be born as legislated by the Welsh Government through its far-reaching Act empowers us all in Wales and further afield to critically evaluate our educational systems and plan a ‘futures framework’ that can have a positive impact. 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. As an engineer, Barry is a systems thinker and demonstrates how the Act is encouraging the first steps towards delivering societal and economic outcomes differently with a focus on prevention including an ambitious set of new actions linked to climate and procurement mechanisms – ie using the critical mass of public body purchasing. 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 Jenkins, from Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law, Swansea University, who sees the Act ‘as a vehicle to effect innovative, integrated and participative approaches to the well-being of Wales by drawing on the strong commitment of its people to history, culture, community, the Welsh language and the natural environment. Viewed in this way, the law is not just a blunt instrument of enforcement, but a powerful force in drawing the attention of public bodies to essential concepts/issues and enabling innovation’. 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 and calls on Wales to demonstrate that ‘In delivering the Well-being of Future Generations Act, Wales must put the emphasis back on quality. It must eliminate all wastes entirely and make sure Welsh carrots are healthy eating’ I second that! Enjoy.
I will notify the specific contributors when your contribution is published, and feed back to you directly if I receive any comments linked to your contributions.
THE CONTRIBUTIONS
Professor Medwin Hughes, Vice-Chancellor, University of Wales Trinity Saint David Group
Goreu Awen Gwirionedd. The best inspiration is truth. This is the motto of the national University of Wales which, for the last decade, I have had the privilege of leading and reshaping its direction so that it can continue to serve a nation within a global context.
Universities, by their very essence, seek the truth and articulate a common good which can transform lives. In the same way, the Well-being of Future Generations Act, established by the Government of Wales, calls upon us all as active citizens to commit to a common good and to take responsibility for tomorrow’s generation and act with compassion and active stewardship for those yet to be born. 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.
Seeking the truth – an understanding that we all have a common ownership for a sustainable future – comes at a cost. It calls upon us to challenge, to articulate a discourse that places ‘disruptive intervention’ at the heart of political and societal change. We need to develop a new generation of thought leaders who can lead system change so that the unending opportunities of tomorrow are made available to a new generation. Universities have a key role to play in developing innovative training programmes which mainstream sustainable principles through degree courses and leadership training. Dogmatic conformity will never secure a sustainable future.
That is why universities matter – as they seek the truth to prepare disruptive leaders who can connect with, understand and lead societal, environmental and cultural change in order for humankind to have an opportunity to rediscover the vast natural wealth it has available at its disposal as long as it is used appropriately. The potential of the Future Generations Act offers us as educationalists the opportunity of establishing a ‘futures-orientated’ pedagogy which places ‘placemaking’ and ‘stewardship’ at the core of our interpretation of sustainable well-being. A dutiful respect for natural capital management and an engaging enquiry into active participatory stewardship will allow us to re-define our understanding of global citizenship values which place a duty on all to reassess our relationship with the physical and social environment. Time is not on our side. The need for fostering a new generation of leaders who appreciate the value of a ‘disruptive socio-environmental capital’ that can be used to further a common good, should be at the forefront of our educational system. The quest for a sustainable future for those yet to be born as legislated by the Welsh Government through its far-reaching Act empowers us all in Wales and further afield to critically evaluate our educational systems and plan a ‘futures framework’ that can have a positive impact. Rediscovering the deeply rooted relationship between humans and the natural world will help us to appreciate the depth of conviction and commitment required to promote collective stewardship for a disconnected world. Through systematic analysis, innovative enquiry and a willingness to work together on integrative practices to protect, care and promote environmental and social values we can successfully seek out the truth and inspire a future generation to take action. ‘Goreu Awen Gwirionedd.’
Barry Liles, Pro Vice Chancellor UWTSD and Chair, Carmarthenshire Public Services Board
Dr Oliver Balch, sustainability journalist and researcher
If ever there was a piece of legislation that wasn’t designed to sit on the shelf, it’s the WFGA. It’s ambitious, it’s ground-breaking and it’s absolutely vital – in both senses of the word. The challenge, of course, is how to avoid just that. Multiple answers could be given. Greater empowerment of the Commissioner role is certainly one. Training of civil servants and awareness-raising among key constituents are others.
Yet, for me, for the WFGA to be the best it can be requires it to escape the confines of government and policymaking. It needs to be owned by everyone. And by ‘it’, I don’t mean the 5-part, 56-page document itself. I mean what it stands for, what it promises; namely, the vision of a better, cleaner, happier, more prosperous Wales.
What can be more exciting or hope-giving than that? 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.
The rest is mechanics. Sure, mechanics aren’t straightforward, but they are within the bounds of the do-able. Delivering an Act that people either don’t get or don’t believe in, on the other hand, is politically and practically impossible. You might as well stick the WFGA in your pipe and smoke it. And smoking, as we all know, is bad for us. Although not half as fatal as ignoring the needs and wishes of future generations.
Victoria Jenkins, Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law, Swansea University
In future, the Act needs to be viewed as a vehicle to effect innovative, integrated and participative approaches to the well-being of Wales by drawing on the strong commitment of its people to history, culture, community, the Welsh language and the natural environment. Viewed in this way, the law is not just a blunt instrument of enforcement, but a powerful force in drawing the attention of public bodies to essential concepts/issues and enabling innovation. The Act has already begun to inspire decision-makers and open new routes to collaborative thinking, but its continued success will rely on two key issues. First and foremost is sustained leadership within the relevant organisations. Second is greater recognition of the importance of local knowledge to innovation and a genuine commitment to the principle of participation. Routes to participation can take many forms and there needs to be more imaginative thinking in this regard, especially given the opportunities afforded by digital media. Community is also a key strength in Wales that should be central to meaningful participation in decision-making, but this will only succeed if proper attention is paid to the way communities identify themselves, rather than using preconceived administrative models of community.
Mal Williams, Zero Waste International Trust
Analysis of the current climate emergency soon brings you to realize that our human mistake of creating waste and discarding it carelessly in our environment, our habitat, without thought or account, is at the heart of the problem. It is affecting our current well-being drastically and increasingly so.
My own journey with Zero Waste began by realizing that eliminating material waste is an accessible first step in dealing with our carelessness. But very early into that journey I realized that there are other less visible ‘wastes’ that add to our discomforts and threaten our existence on this planet.
Our reluctance to properly account for the environmental and social costs while doing business and free-trading globally have led us to a place where only profit matters. Corporatism is a sterile place. The destruction of living cells in the soils that grow our food is just one example of putting priority on quantity rather than quality. Who cares about tasteless food containing few nutrients so long as corporate shareholders are getting their returns?
In delivering the Well-being of Future Generations Act, Wales must put the emphasis back on quality. It must eliminate all wastes entirely and make sure Welsh carrots are healthy eating.
The Contribution Of Waste And Resources Management To The Well-Being Of Future Generations Act (WFGA) 2015
There are seven well-being goals. For each goal, the contribution of waste and resource management is summarized.
A globally responsible Wales
Wales has moved from ca. 95 per cent of all municipal waste being landfilled at the time of devolution to less than 10 per cent in 2019. This has avoided very large quantities of methane escaping to the atmosphere. As a potent greenhouse gas, methane makes a significant contribution towards global warming and reducing this helps Wales to contribute towards tackling climate change.
From the time of devolution to 2019, municipal waste recycling rates have increased from 5 per cent to 63 per cent. Retaining and using resources within the Welsh economy displaces the need for extracted or harvested virgin products, thus reducing the pressure on global habitats, ecosystems and wilderness.
A prosperous Wales
All the products and packaging imported into Wales contain materials that have an intrinsic economic value. When these materials are discarded, they are able to be collected, re-processed and re-manufactured within Wales, creating and supporting opportunities for businesses in the secondary materials sector and its associated jobs. These jobs provide opportunities for those in Welsh communities and provide further economic benefits from local economic multipliers as these workers support families and buy locally sourced goods and services.
A resilient Wales
There are materials that are essential to key sectors within the Welsh economy, from rare metals in electronic goods to the nutrients contained within waste food. Retaining and re-processing these materials within the Welsh economy enables Welsh businesses to have access to critical raw materials, making the economy more resilient. Utilizing the nutrients recycled from composting and anaerobic digestion (AD) enables Welsh horticulture and agriculture to provide more locally produced food, making Wales more resilient should there be disruption to global food supplies.
A healthier Wales
The controlled management of wastes helps to avoid emissions of gases, the production of leachate and the introduction into the environment of materials which might pose a risk to public health.
A more equal Wales
The recycling and re-use of items and materials provides improved access to them for some who were previously excluded. The secondary materials sector helps provide economic opportunities for individuals and communities who would otherwise be more disadvantaged. This contributes to greater social and economic equity.
A Wales of cohesive communities
Every community in Wales contributes towards the recycling of materials resources and each benefits from the re-use and recycling of items and materials. This allows individuals and families to remain in their communities rather than being forced to move to seek appropriate work.
A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language
The economic and environmental benefits of resource management enable individuals to remain within the communities of their choice and to support and embrace local culture and use of the Welsh language.
David Thorpe, author of The One Planet Life, and One Planet Cities, Co-founder and Patron of the One Planet Council, Director of the One Planet Centre and Lecturer on the PGCert in One Planet Governance at UWTSD.
My dream legislation
As anyone reading this book will know by now the world is facing a climate and extinction emergency mainly because the awful, external costs to the planet and to society of doing business have not been factored into balance sheets by either businesses or governments. We've taken everything the planet can give us – from the ground, sea and air – as being ‘free’. It isn't. It's there for a reason.
Unfortunately, as anyone with a bank account knows, you can't keep drawing from it forever; there comes a time when you have to pay it back or your house is taken away from you. We're well into overdraft, the planet is our house and we don't have another one.
The revolutionary Well-being of Future Generations Act goes some of the way to persuading public bodies, funded by our taxes and acting in our names, that they should behave within planetary boundaries to safeguard the future. One of the indicators of the Act is the ecological footprint of Wales, which is currently just under three planets – that's what we'd need if everyone in the world were to live like us. This is both unfair and unsustainable.
But the Act lacks teeth. People only really change their bad old ways if they have to. My wish then is that further legislation adopts the principal of contraction and convergence: that by law, every year, the ecological footprint of the country must be reduced until after, say, 20 years, it is down to one planet. That is four times longer than the five years required from those gaining planning permission for a One Planet Development in Wales – as measured by the government’s own ecological footprint calculator!
Like the UK’s equally revolutionary Climate Change Act, an independent commissioner should be set up to produce periodical ecological budgets that would force public bodies to improve biocapacity and reduce our demands on nature for supplying the resources we use and absorbing our pollution. It would make it legally binding upon the country to move towards a closed loop, zero-waste, zero-carbon and equitable society, while at the same time creating new skills, jobs and improving health.
This, scientifically speaking, is I believe the only way that we will have a chance of paying off the ecological overdraft. It's the only way our grandchildren might inherit a world at least as healthy as ours – preferably more so.
If you have any comments on this blog, or would like to get in touch, please use the contact form. The form also works for the growing number of followers of my husband Guy for his reflections on growing and wildlife in his blog, PatchWork which he aims to update weekly – unless the slugs get the better of him!
#futuregen: Lessons from a Small Country https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/futuregenerations-lessons-from-a-small-country/
Jane Davidson
25th July 2020