About

FDSD is a UK-based think tank that explores and helps build the relationship between flourishing democracy and sustainable development. Our work takes three forms:

  • Research. We identify, document and share governance innovations to support the development of practical solutions.
  • Advocacy. We gather the evidence, and make the connections, needed to advocate for political reform and institutional change.
  • Dialogue. We convene multi-stakeholder forums, and open spaces for dialogue, to change a climate of thought and shape policy and practice.

Across all our streams of work, we help to develop the tools and tactics needed to equip people, organisations and governments to better think, plan and act for the long term. We produce reports and briefings, and commission short pieces or provocations to stimulate debate, and suggest solutions. We respond to national and international consultations, and raise issues directly.

Our Team

The Foundation for Democracy and Sustainable Development is led by a group of trustees who are also directors of the company. Associates bring their knowledge, skills and experience to help us take forward FDSD’s agenda.

Our Achievements

You can download a detailed account of FDSD’s history and achievements.

In summary:

How and why we were set up

FDSD started life as the Environment Foundation in 1983 with an endowment from the international insurance industry. It was probably the City of London’s first major initiative to address and raise awareness of the environmental impact of the economy.

The Foundation catalysed change from the outset, both in markets and in the minds of decision-makers and opinion-formers. For example, we worked with the Financial Times, Royal Society of Arts and Shell on award schemes such as the Better Environmental Awards for Industry to celebrate and encourage replication of the best technologies and practices. These paved the way for the inclusion of environmental and then sustainable development categories in the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise.  There was also seed funding for research projects and travelling Fellowships and from 1992-2006, the Foundation organised high-level stakeholder consultations at St George’s House in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

From environment to sustainable development

Over time it became increasingly apparent that there was a need to address the broader context in which environmental decisions are made. Activities shifted to encompass the interrelated environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainable development.

As the Environment Foundation widened its remit, it led to a long legal battle with the Charity Commission for England and Wales before they finally accepted that the “promotion of sustainable development for the benefit of the public” could be accepted as a charitable objective. We are proud that other charities can now incorporate sustainable development in their aims and objectives.

Incorporating democracy

In 2008, the Environment Foundation hosted a public event at The Dana Research Centre to explore the links and tensions between sustainable development and democracy. It was clear that this issue was receiving very little attention. We therefore refocused our mission and changed our name to the Foundation for Democracy and Sustainable Development (FDSD) in July 2009.

The initial finance came partly from the existing reserves of the Environment Foundation, as well as a three-year grant from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust to support research into climate change and democracy, supplemented by the Foundation for the Future and with a core grant from The Tedworth Charitable Trust.

Our Supporters

FDSD’s work arose from an endowment given to the Environment Foundation (the forerunner of FDSD) in the 1980s by the international insurance industry. We have supplemented this resource with individual grants.

FDSD has been awarded three-year grants to support core organisational funding by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (2011-2013) and the Tedworth Trust (2012-2014). We were also awarded a ‘Future of Humanity’ grant by Foundation for the Future for a two-year research project on The Future of Democracy in the Face of Climate Change to 2100.

The Esmée Fairburn Foundation supported an event on Democracy and Sustainability. The Pacific Institute and International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) provided project-based grants for our work The ISO 26000 international guidance standard on social responsibility: implications for public policy and transnational democracy. And WWF-UK and the World Future Council funded research for a proposal to establish a UN High Commissioner for Future Generations.

Many thanks to all our funders for their support.

Our Partners

Partnerships are central to our work.

Since 2009, we have worked with:

Capacity GlobalClub de MadridCentre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP), InvolveInstitute and Faculty of Actuaries21st Century TrustThe Dana CentreSalzburg Global SeminarUK Environmental Law AssociationThe Office of the Hungarian Parliamentary Commissioner for Future GenerationsSchumacher CollegeWWF-UKPacific InstituteInternational Institute for Environment and DevelopmentChatham HouseUK Youth Climate CoalitionUNICEF-UKGoodenough CollegeIntergenerational Foundation; Alliance for Future Generations, University of Westminster, Centre for the Study of Democracy, UN Global Compact Network UK, Today for Tomorrow and The Institute for Government.

Acknowledgements

We would also like to acknowledge the work of a number of other friends and collaborators who helped to launch our work on democracy and sustainable development. They include Keith Burgess, Tom Burke, Lucy and Sir Geoffrey Chandler, Ian Christie, Dawn Emling, Sam Lakha, Tim O’Riordan, Sara Parkin, Mike Shanahan, Tim Smit and especially Halina Ward, FDSD’s first Director.

Latest News & Comment

Wales—A Well-Being Nation 

Wales—A Well-Being Nation 

In this article, Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner of Wales, sets out his Office’s new seven year strategy, arguing that the WfG Act has to now “work harder and faster”, even though, at the same time as public finances, including his own office, are under severe pressure.

FDSD Newsletter, Autumn 2023

FDSD Newsletter, Autumn 2023

From national to local level, Scotland is rethinking how its policy, and participation practices, can better reflect sustainable development, wellbeing, and the needs of future generations. This FDSD newsletter showcases some of the activities that are happening, or are being considered.

Deepening Democracy for the Long Term | By Graham Smith

Deepening Democracy for the Long Term | By Graham Smith

The public’s perspectives on future generations are highly structured by the context in which they are articulated. A long-term perspective is rarely taken by people when they make immediate and everyday decisions – with the exception of those motivated by ‘lifetime-transcending interests’.