THE DISPATCH
FUTURE GENERATIONS
The UN has gone where The Big Issue has previously led. It’s a welcome move
The Big Issue, led by the parliamentary action of Lord John Bird, has been calling for some time for baked-in legislation that considers long-term better futures for all.
Now the world is listening.
Last week, fresh from hosting the climate change COP26 summit in Glasgow, the United Nations announced it would establish a UN Special Envoy for Future Generations and a UN declaration for future generations as well as holding a Futures Summit in 2023.
This is a landmark and significant announcement – and it represents an important leap forward in international recognition for the Future Generations movement.
Wales introduced the Well-being of Future Generations Act (Wales) in 2016 and appointed the UK’s first Future Generations Commissioner Sophie Howe to scrutinise decisions made by government and public bodies to ensure they meet future needs.
Scotland is set to follow Wales’ lead – with Howe meeting Scottish minister Patrick Harvie to share expertise during COP26 – while Lord Bird is currently bringing legislation through Westminster to ensure the UK government follows suit. His Future Generations Bill entered the committee stage in the House of Lords last week.
“Our vision for a UN
