“What Wales is doing today the world will do tomorrow” – United Nations

The Welsh Government’s Well-being of Future Generations Act has been hailed as “pioneering” and “a model for other countries” today as it receives Royal Assent and becomes the first law of its kind to be passed worldwide.

The comments were made ahead of an International Sustainable Development event in Cardiff, in which leading policy makers practitioners from around the world discussed “Making decisions for a better tomorrow”, with the Act high on the agenda.

The new law has been shaped by a year-long national conversation on the ‘Wales We Want’ (external link) which shaped the long-term goals for Wales. These seven well-being goals are at the heart of the Act and are for a prosperous, resilient, healthy, globally responsible, more equal Wales, with a thriving culture and cohesive communities.

Nikhil Seth, Director of Division for Sustainable Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations said:

“The Wales future generations Act captures the spirit and essence of two decades of United Nations work in the area of sustainable development and serves as a model for other regions and countries. ‘One Wales, One Planet’ captures it all. We hope that what Wales is doing today the world will do tomorrow. Action, more than words, is the hope for our current and future generations.”

The Welsh Minister for Natural Resources, Carl Sargeant said:

“This is some of the most ambitious and far-reaching legislation to go through the National Assembly and the level of international recognition by the UN and others further demonstrates the scale of our ambition.

“This pioneering Act will influence every aspect of the public sector in Wales, moving us towards achieving the Wales we all want to see. It places a duty on us all to work together to ensure that decisions taken today are made with future generations at their heart – we cannot keep leaving our problems for our children and grandchildren to solve.”

Peter Davies, Wales’ Commissioner for Sustainable Futures, added:

“the Well-being of Future Generations Act ensures that the people are involved in shaping the Wales they live in. Over the last year we led a national conversation on ‘The Wales we Want’, speaking to around 7,000 people across the country. Their views have fed into this Act”.