Thanks to timely work from members of the Alliance for Future Generations and others, the setting up of a High Commissioner or an Ombudsperson to protect the needs of future generations is now part of a draft declaration to be discussed in preparations for the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development later this year.

The so-called “Zero Draft” declaration was put together by the UN Secretariat for the conference as an initial basis for negotiations, drawing on submissions from civil society groups, governments and international organisations.

On page 10, the ombudsman clause says: “We agree to further consider the establishment of an Ombudsperson, or High Commissioner for Future Generations, to promote sustainable development.”

We hope this will help focus discussion on integrating the needs of future generations within international decision-making and ultimately the possibility of setting up democratic structures to protect the needs of future generations around the world.

* See the zero draft (pdf, 122kB from the UN conference site)