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The Well-being of Future Generations Pledge is an exploratory initiative designed to make the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act more visible and easier for people to understand in the context of everyday life. By gathering insights from consumers, young people, community members, and local businesses, the project explores how the Act’s seven wellbeing goals can be communicated in relatable ways that help people see how these principles already shape the places they live, shop, work, and connect.

A key aim of the initiative is to support people in making consumption choices that align with the wellbeing goals; whether through the products they buy, the services they use, or the organisations they choose to support. Through stories, conversations, and creative engagement, the project highlights real examples of how wellbeing and long-term thinking are already embedded in everyday decisions across Wales. These insights will inform early prototypes of accessible tools or visual cues that help people recognise and choose options that reflect the spirit of the Act.

Project Lead: Lymarie Rodriguez

What is the Well-being of Future Generations Act?

The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 is a Welsh law designed to improve the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of Wales. It requires public bodies to take a long-term, sustainable approach to decision-making, ensuring that the needs of the present are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Wales’ commitment to the well-being of future generations takes inspiration from indigenous wisdom and the Seventh Generation Principle.

Since the Well-being of Future Generations Act was passed in 2015, nations worldwide have begun adopting a similar focus on the interests of the not-yet-born.This pioneering approach mandates a new mindset, providing the ambition, permission, and legal obligation to enhance our social, cultural, environmental, and economic well-being.

The Act establishes seven national well-being goals and requires public bodies to work together and involve the public in achieving them.

Key aspects of the Act

Principle of sustainable development: The Act aims to put sustainable development at the core of public decision-making.
Long-term focus: It forces public bodies to think about the long-term consequences of their actions.
Preventive approach: It encourages taking action to prevent problems from occurring or getting worse.
Collaborative work: It requires public bodies to work better with people and communities and with each other.
Integrated approach: It promotes a joined-up approach to decision-making, considering the links between social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being.
Involvement of people: It mandates the involvement of people of all ages and diversity in making decisions.
Seven well-being goals: The Act provides a common purpose through seven national well-being goals for Wales.
Future Generations Commissioner for Wales: The Act established an independent commissioner to act as a champion for future generations.

Well-being Goals

A prosperous Wales; A resilient Wales; A healthier Wales; A more equal Wales; A Wales of cohesive communities; A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh Language; A globally responsible Wales.

Ways of Working

Along with the 7 goals, the act identifies 5 ways of working:

Long-term: The importance of balancing short-term needs with the needs to safeguard the ability to also meet long-term needs.
Integration: Considering how the public body’s well-being objectives may impact upon each of the well-being goals, on their objectives, or on the objectives of other public bodies.
Involvement: The importance of involving people with an interest in achieving the well-being goals, and ensuring that those people reflect the diversity of the area which the body serves.
Collaboration: Acting in collaboration with any other person (or different parts of the body itself) that could help the body to meet its well-being objectives.
Prevention: How acting to prevent problems occurring or getting worse may help public bodies meet their objectives.

The Well-being of Future Generations Act has at its heart the concept of long-term thinking to improve the quality of life for all. “The Well-being of Future Generations Act is about improving lives now, next year, in 25, 50, 100 years into the future – and more.” Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales.