Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill | First reading in the House of Commons
Following the second reading of the “Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill” at the House of Lords on 12 March 2020, Caroline Lucas MP, with support from every major party, now introduced the Bill to the House of Commons.
Vacancy | APPG for Future Generations is hiring a Parliamentary Coordinator
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Future Generations is looking for a Parliamentary Coordinator to help the cross-party group with strategy setting, event and management and policy development. Work in Parliament and join the growing team looking to tackle political short-termism and find ways to internalise responsibilities for future generations into today’s policy making.
Launching the Campaign for a UK Future Generations Act
FDSD is playing a leading role in developing the campaign for a UK Future Generations Act in partnership with Lord Bird and the Big Issue. On Tuesday 12 February, a standing room-only meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Future Generations considered the draft Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill. In the evening, a crowded reception of civil society and business supporters of the Bill celebrated the launch of the campaign.
Towards a Wellbeing Economy | EESC calls for a new vision of prosperity
The European Economic and Social Committee overwhelmingly adopted a position paper on the sustainable and inclusive ‘wellbeing economy’ that Europe needs. A call on the EU ‘for a new vision of prosperity’, developed in close collaboration with CUSP director Tim Jackson as Expert to the Rapporteur.
FDSD welcomes UK Climate Assembly
FDSD has long supported the wider use of participatory and deliberative processes such as citizens’ assemblies in bringing the voice of citizens into political decision making. We are therefore delighted that the first weekend of the UK Climate Assembly has been a success.
Populism: consequences for global sustainable development
Populism is changing the shape of democracy in a number of countries around the world, in some cases dramatically. That has an impact on international as well as domestic commitments including those supporting sustainable development. In a briefing paper publishd in...
Shaping the campaign for a UK Future Generations Act
FDSD was delighted to host a workshop at the University of Westminster to develop the campaign for the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act being led by Lord Bird. The event attracted representatives from around 30 organisations, including UK Student Climate Network, WWF-UK, Carnegie Trust UK, IPPR, Intergenerational Foundation.
Activism in a new climate | Conference and theatre, Manchester 29 Apr 2020
The 6th CUSP Nature of Prosperity Dialogue takes as its theme the challenge of Activism in a New Climate. The Manchester event promises to be a lively debate between politicians, activists and academics on one of the most topical questions of our time: how should citizens now act in the face of the climate crisis? Booking is now open online. Further details will be confirmed shortly.
#TODAYFORTOMORROW | Lord Bird introduces Future Generations Bill
Our politics is too short-term. Our democracy seems unable to deal with long-term challenges. But change is at hand. With support from FDSD and other partners, The Big Issue founder, Lord Bird, has introduced the Future Generations Bill in the UK Parliament, and is working to build a cross-party alliance of MPs and Peers to change the law.
Future Generations Podcast | Reasons to be Cheerful with FDSD trustee Andrea Westall
“When they go short-term, we go long-term…” FDSD trustee Andrea Westall recently joined Ed Miliband and Geoff Lloyd for their Reasons to be Cheerful Podcast, to discuss the urgent need for representation of future generations in today’s politics. With invited guests including Sophie Howe and Laurie Laybourn-Langton the podcast investigates the prevalent short-termism in politics, its impact on key issues such as the environmental emergency and how to design new institutions to overcome it.
Democratic Reform, Intergenerational Justice and the Challenges of the Long-Term | Essay by Simon Caney
Philosophical essay by Simon Caney on the morality of prosperity, intertemporal politics and a re-imagination of our political life.
Citizens’ assemblies: how to bring the wisdom of the public to bear on the climate emergency | Blog by Graham Smith
Citizens’ assemblies could be vital in kick-starting the tough steps needed to respond to the climate emergency, Chair of the FDSD board of trustees, Graham Smith, argues. But the detail of how they will work is critical. (This blog first appeared on The Conversation website.)
#FuturesCymru2019: Wales leads on embedding futures in public policy | Blog by Cat Tully
FDSD trustee Cat Tully recently joined the #FuturesCymru2019 conference with a keynote presentation on Leading into the Futures: integrating foresight into our work. Here she summarises her thoughts on the conference: The Welsh experience is one to watch globally, she finds, in showing how integrating long-term thinking can produce sustainable policies.
Intergenerational Fairness Criteria | Round Tables – London, 17 April 2019
Together with the FDSD, the School of International Futures (an organisation that helps policy-makers, business leaders and communities make strategic choices, manage risk and become future-ready) is hosting a Round Table on Intergenerational Fairness taking place on...
Taking the Long View | February 2019
In this issue, we focus on the loudening call for citizens to lead a new approach to decision making that can steer our democracies towards a greener, fairer future.
Call for applicants to join our board
FDSD is a London-based think tank that explores the critical links between flourishing democracy and sustainable development. Through research, advocacy and dialogue, we build the evidence and make the connections needed to secure fairness for all and a healthy...
A call to do politics differently—Blog by Peter Davies
The 2015 Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act requires public bodies in Wales to incorporate public involvement in their decision making. The explicit emphasis on engaging the public reflects the strong views expressed in the national conversation of 2014 that...
Extinction Rebellion and democratic renewal—Blog by Graham Smith
2018 witnessed the emergence of a dynamic, new climate change movement—Extinction Rebellion (XR). The use of mass civil disobedience has a long democratic heritage and makes a significant contribution to democratic culture. But XR has other ambitions to renew democracy: one of its key demands is also democratic reform: “a national citizens’ assembly to oversee the changes, as part of creating a democracy fit for purpose.”