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.