How to give future humans a voice in government

Abstract

Sophie Howe, the future generations commissioner of Wales, describes her work as ‘calling out the madness’ in governance, by ensuring that policymakers consider the long-term impact of their decisions on future generations. Howe explains that the Future Generations Act of Wales sets out long-term goals and obligates public institutions to work towards them, and that her role involves monitoring and assessing their progress, as well as providing advice and support. Howe emphasizes the need to balance different interests, including economic growth and environmental conservation, by considering the aggregate positive contribution across all well-being goals. She discusses the challenge of representing future generations who cannot voice their own preferences, and the importance of involving citizens in shaping the vision for the future. Howe expresses frustration at the slow pace of progress, but remains optimistic about the potential for the long-term thinking movement to transform governance worldwide. – AI-generated abstract.