Take the long view

Suggestions for action

During the consultation process for the Manifesto, we asked people to suggest actions or innovations that could get democracy to work better for sustainable development, or sustainability. We’ve divided up peoples’ responses in line with the six themes of the Democracy and Sustainability Platform that make up the Manifesto Principles.

On this page, you can read peoples’ ideas for action to ensure our systems of democracy take the long view.

We hope the ideas get you thinking about what might be needed. Whether you agree or not, we hope that they will inspire you as you plan your own actions to implement the Manifesto for Democracy and Sustainability.

You can read more here about the Manifesto consultation process, who was involved, and how.

The overall idea

Several terms have come to signify this idea: Anticipatory governance, adaptive governance and proactive governance. But they all encompass such things as multi-year budgeting, ombudspersons for future generations etc (SriLanka)

A positive action campaign for the whole citizenry to inspire everyone to look deeply into the future (UK)

will this inherently mean longer election cycles etc (UK)

Youth votes

Giving a vote to younger people would extend time horizons (Singapore)

Younger people should have more than one vote in reflection of the longer ‘future’ ahead of them, with older people receiving fewer votes (UK)

Using existing mechanisms

Making use of existing under-utilized/unrecognized – democratic vehicles such as England’s urban and rural Parish and Town Councils that are empowered to raise local taxes (UK)

The global practice of democracy takes into account that of the local in order to achieve long-term and non-imposing needs for future generations (UK)

Impact assessment

Consideration in decision-making for our impacts on future generations (UK)

Policy initiatives should be supplemented by analysis of their long-term effects (UK)

There should be a Committee of both Houses with a remit to “future proof” legislation and policy proposals (UK)

Institutional innovations

Support for the establishment of ombudspersons for future generations at all levels from national, regional to global could be included here (UK)

Establishment of a panel of jury/auditors to ensure that local and national initiatives protect the interest of future generations, including a panel for each individual community (UK)

Annual, public access conference to review our objectives and priorities to protect the welfare of future generations (UK)

Extension of the Human Rights Act to provide for the rights of future generations (UK)

The key thing is how our expectations influence us, and how aware we are of our ability to shape our future as individuals or en masse. And how we can be wildly wrong! (UK)

A flame (candle or fire) in the middle of any decision making or discussion forum (e.g. boardroom, committee, council or meeting) to represent the presence and needs of future generations and the effects of decisions on our children. The flame can also represent greenhouse gas production and remind us to consider how to minimize it before we blow out the flame at the end of the meeting (UK)

An independent ombudsperson for future generations, including arbitration on rights for future generations’ access to a sustainable future (UK)

Creation of ‘an Ombudsman for Future Generations’ (Germany)

Ombudsman and Panels for Future Generations, and also an annual ‘State of the Future’ debate and report in Parliaments (UK)

An office of resource security to look at long term challenges to our resource security (UK)

Local people forums to make longer-term decisions over climate change (UK)

15 year terms of elected peers to scrutinize legislation for its long term impact (UK)

A museum of the future

A Museum of the Future, as proposed by consultee Claire Nash:

A Museum of the Future could function as a “virtual museum” attached to a real museum. It would seek to link people to their present, past, and future by showing how our aspirations, dreams and actions shape our future. It would provide a space to think about the future and share ideas, hopes, worries, and pledges – reminding people that what they do today will be tomorrow’s history. It could ask the question: what effect do they suppose that future generations will feel? The Museum’s exhibits could compare ideas and expectations from the past with what has emerged at the present time, and what could happen 1, 20 or 100 years ahead. It might feature great ‘futurists’ of the past, linking all disciplines including science, mathematics (featuring trajectories, probabilities, and cycles), economics, history, politics, art and design, media studies, biology/ecology, religious studies, and others. The key learning from the museum would be how our expectations influence us, and how aware we are of our ability to shape our future as individuals or en masse, and how we sometimes can be wildly wrong! (Claire Nash, UK)

Existing institutions and initiatives

Hungary: Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, Deputy Commissioner for Rights Responsible for the Protection of the Interest of Future Generations (formerly the Deputy Ombudsman for Future Generations)

Finland: the Committee for the Future, Finnish Parliament

UK Alliance for Future Generations

Ministério Público (see for example this explanation of the role in Brazil)

The Climate Change Act 2008 and accompanying Committee on Climate Change. In principle at least, this is a rare example of a democracy binding its long term direction through both targets and implementing structures (UK)

Proposals and campaigns

Guardians for Future Generations

UN High Commissioner for Future Generations

The Elders is an interesting concept where political thought leaders can think long-term without pressure of the ballot box (UK)

Ombudspersons for Future Generations campaign (World Future Council)

Share your ideas

This is what people came up with during the consultation process. You can share your own ideas for practical actions under this theme by completing the comment box below. We look forward to hearing from you!

One Response to “Suggestions for action”

  1. Chit Chong

    In a direct email to the Manifesto Chit Chong says:

    “My personal belief is that democracy needs a fundamental shake up if it is to meet the needs of future generations. Unfortunately, democracy really acts in the interest of the voters and as such future generations do not get a look in.
    Democracy needs the backing of law and custom to protect the rights of future generations as well as the proxy representation such as Commissioners for Future Generations. The most developed laws that do this is Polly Higgin’s Law on Ecocide so I would nominate that as important work to help democracy protect the rights of future generations.”

    Reply

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