A new alliance to build long-termism into UK democracy
FDSD is proud to be a key founding organisation behind the new Alliance for Future Generations (AFG). The Alliance’s members are organisations and individuals working to ensure that long-termism and the needs of future generations are brought into the heart of UK democracy and policy processes, in order to safeguard the earth and secure intergenerational justice. Supporting the Alliance and contributing to its projects currently forms a significant portion of FDSD’s work on future generations.
“There is a great deal of work that needs to be done to achieve wider cultural transformation – so that as citizens, we place higher value on future generations and collective well-being.”
From the founding document of the Alliance
The Alliance was launched in March 2011 and will, we hope, become a leading voice for those calling for reforms to our democratic system and policies that will ensure we hand on a better future to our descendants and to young people living now.
- Download the founding document (pdf, 320kB)
- See a list of Alliance members.
Keep an eye out for updates — we’ll post them here as the Alliance takes shape…
Latest news on future generations
20th November 2011
British people care about future generations
FDSD teamed up with the Intergenerational Foundation to commission an opinion poll on British attitudes to future generations. The results were both surprising and heartening.
It seems that we British care much more than you might think about our future descendants. More than two thirds (67%) of people interviewed thought the government was not doing enough for future generations. And when asked what was the most important legacy to hand down, far more people (45%) chose “a healthy planet” than chose other options like a thriving economy (9%) or even safety and security (16%).
“This research reveals that, when issues are framed in terms of future generations, people take a more responsible, global and longer-term perspective. It demonstrates that people are more than willing to step back from their day-to-day concerns to take the longer view.”
Ewan Jones, member of the Alliance for Future Generations
- download the detailed findings (pdf, 111kB)
1st November 2011
AFG members call for a UN High Commissioner
The ‘Rio+20′ Working Group of the Alliance for Future Generations has published an open challenge paper (pdf 240k) in preparation for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) which will be held in June next year, 20 years on from 1992 Earth Summit.
The paper has already received support from both the former president and the current Parliamentary Commissioner for Future Generations in Hungary (the only country so far to have such a post). Other signatories are listed at the foot of the paper (link below).
The challenge paper, which was submitted today to the UN secretariat for consideration in the run-up to the Conference, proposes that a new UN High Commissioner for Future Generations (UNHCFG) be established to “safeguard long-termism and the needs of future generations at the global level”.
“I agree with the analysis presented in your Challenge paper, and share your feeling of urgency for an adequate institutional response at the UN level (as well as other governance levels). I wish to express my support to this initiative of the AFG”
Prof. László Sólyom, Former President of the Republic of Hungary
- Download challenge paper (pdf, 240k, 6 pages)
Background information
Members of the Alliance for Future Generations
Up-to-date as of November 2011
Organisations
- Capacity Global
- Climate Outreach and Information Network
- Compass
- Environmental Law Foundation
- Foundation for Democracy and Sustainable Development
- Friends of the Earth England Wales and Northern Ireland
- Gaia Foundation
- Intergenerational Foundation
- Involve
- Peace Child International
- Public Interest Research Centre
- Schumacher Institute
- Stakeholder Forum
- Think 2050
- UK Youth Climate Coalition
- World Future Council
- WWF-UK
Individuals
- Michael Bartlet
- Tim Baster
- Guppi Bola
- Chit Chong
- Chris Church
- Will Day
- Begonia Filgueira
- Kathie Fishwick
- Rebecca Gibbs
- Mayer Hillman
- Ewan Jones
- Caroline Lucas
- Sean Lusk
- Phil Monaghan
- Jane Morris
- Jonathon Porritt
- Rupert Read
- Peter Roderick
- Jamie Saunders
- Jonathan Sinclair-Wilson
- Ana Stanic
- Deborah Tripley
- Farooq Ullah
- Perry Walker
- Guy Yeomans
- Anandini Yoganathan