Lessons on leaving the world better than you found it | Sophie Howe

Summary

The speaker, the world's only future generations commissioner and a mother of five, shares insights on how Wales is legislating to protect future generations' interests. Wales has enacted laws requiring public institutions to demonstrate long-term thinking and avoid harming the interests of those yet to be born. The government has set national well-being goals, focusing on low-carbon economy, health, connected communities, and equality. They emphasize the importance of involving people in setting goals, recognizing interconnections between well-being aspects, and using well-being metrics to guide decisions, such as prioritizing public transport over motorways. The talk also highlights innovative approaches in Cardiff, like sustainable transport and nature-based solutions to improve health and the environment.

Takeaways

• 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales is the first country to legislate for the protection of future generations, appointing an independent commissioner for this purpose.
• 📜 The Welsh government and public institutions are required to demonstrate long-term thinking in their actions and decisions, ensuring they do not harm future generations.
• 👥 Involving the public in setting long-term goals is crucial, with Wales having conducted a 'Wales We Want' national conversation to gather public input.
• 🌿 The government has legislated seven national well-being goals, including a low-carbon economy, community connection, and equality, which all institutions must work towards.
• 🔗 There is an emphasis on recognizing the interconnections between different aspects of well-being, such as health, environment, and economic prosperity.
• 🏥 Welsh institutions are encouraged to work beyond their immediate remit, leading to innovative partnerships like hospitals collaborating with botanical gardens.
• 📊 Well-being metrics, including social, economic, environmental, and cultural factors, are used to measure success instead of traditional economic growth indicators.
• 🚶‍♂️ The script highlights the example of prioritizing public transport and active travel over a new motorway, based on well-being metrics.
• 💼 Economic stimulus plans are being designed to maximize well-being, including targeting jobs in green sectors towards those furthest from the labor market.
• 🌳 Projects are encouraged to be holistic, considering sustainability in all aspects, such as incorporating sustainable drainage in cycling infrastructure.
• 🏙️ Cardiff, the capital, is implementing strategies to address air pollution, long commutes, and health inequalities by promoting sustainable transport and community greening.

Q & A

What makes Wales unique in terms of legislation for future generations?

Wales is the only country in the world that has legislated to protect the interests of future generations and appointed an independent Future Generations Commissioner.

What is the primary goal of Wales' legislation concerning future generations?

The primary goal is to ensure that all main public institutions demonstrate how they are acting for the long-term and making decisions that do not harm the interests of those yet to be born.

How did Wales involve its citizens in setting long-term goals?

Wales held a national conversation called 'The Wales We Want,' where citizens expressed their desires for a low-carbon economy, improved public health, connected communities, and a more equal society.

What are the seven national well-being goals set by the Welsh government?

The seven national well-being goals include a low-carbon economy, improved public health, connected communities, and equality among others, aimed at achieving holistic well-being.

How are Welsh institutions held accountable for meeting well-being goals?

Each institution must demonstrate how they are meeting the well-being goals and are held accountable by the Future Generations Commissioner.

Why is it important to focus on the interconnections between different aspects of well-being?

Focusing on interconnections helps to address multiple issues simultaneously, such as how tackling air pollution benefits both public health and the environment, or how workforce diversity enhances economic prosperity and reduces inequality.

Can you provide an example of how Welsh institutions are collaborating to meet well-being goals?

Hospitals in Wales are working with the National Botanic Gardens to create spaces for nature on their sites, and the environmental agency is helping to find solutions for tackling childhood adversity.

What metrics are used in Wales to measure success, as opposed to traditional economic metrics?

Wales measures success based on their seven well-being goals, which encompass social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being, rather than traditional economic growth metrics like GVA.

How did applying well-being metrics impact a major infrastructure decision in Wales?

When the government considered building a new motorway, well-being metrics showed that improving public transport and active travel would better meet health, carbon emission, nature protection, and income distribution goals. As a result, the motorway plan was replaced with a focus on public transport and active travel.

How is Cardiff addressing issues like air pollution and inequality through its well-being act?

Cardiff's public institutions are working together, incentivizing sustainable travel for employees, increasing investment in safe cycling and walking routes, and implementing public health solutions like bike hire prescriptions. They are also integrating sustainable drainage systems to create green spaces and improve communities.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Future Generations Act in Wales

This paragraph introduces Wales as a progressive country with a unique law, the Future Generations Act, designed to protect the interests of future generations. The law mandates long-term thinking in government and public institutions, ensuring decisions don't harm those yet to be born. The speaker, a mother and the world's only future generations commissioner, aims to share lessons on improving the world for future generations. The importance of involving people in setting long-term goals is emphasized, as demonstrated by the 'Wales We Want' national conversation, which led to seven national well-being goals being legislated. These goals cover a low-carbon economy, health, community connection, and equality, with institutions required to demonstrate their contribution to these goals.

05:02

🌿 Implementing Well-being Goals in Wales

The second paragraph delves into the practical application of the well-being goals in Wales. It discusses the necessity of focusing on the interconnections between different aspects of well-being, such as public health and environmental concerns, and the importance of diversity for economic prosperity and inequality. The legal duty of institutions to recognize these connections and collaborate with unusual partners is highlighted. Examples include hospitals working with botanical gardens and environmental agencies addressing childhood adversity. The paragraph also emphasizes the use of well-being metrics to measure success beyond economic growth, as seen in the government's decision to prioritize public transport and active travel over a new motorway. The focus is on maximizing contribution to well-being, targeting economic stimulus towards those furthest from the labor market, and considering projects holistically to avoid trade-offs in sustainability.

Keywords

💡Future Generations

The term 'Future Generations' refers to people who will live in the future. The video's main theme revolves around Wales' commitment to protecting the interests of future generations through legislation and the appointment of a commissioner. This concept underscores the importance of long-term thinking in policymaking to ensure sustainable development and well-being for those yet to be born.

💡Legislation

Legislation is the act of making or enacting laws. In the video, Wales is highlighted as the only country to have legislated to protect the interests of future generations. This legal framework requires public institutions to consider long-term impacts in their decisions, aiming to foster sustainability and well-being.

💡Well-being Goals

Well-being goals are objectives aimed at improving the overall quality of life. In Wales, the government has set seven national well-being goals based on public consultation. These goals include a low-carbon economy, public health improvement, and connected communities. Each public institution must demonstrate how it meets these goals, which are central to the country's sustainable development strategy.

💡Public Health

Public health refers to the health of the population as a whole, typically regulated and promoted by governmental bodies. In the video, public health is mentioned in the context of tackling air pollution and designing transportation strategies that promote well-being. For example, doctors in Cardiff can prescribe free bike hire to improve physical activity.

💡Sustainability

Sustainability involves meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The video emphasizes sustainable practices in Wales, such as investing in public transport and active travel over building new motorways. Sustainability is a core principle in the legislative measures described.

💡National Conversation

A national conversation is a widespread public engagement initiative to gather input from citizens. The 'Wales We Want' national conversation allowed people to voice their aspirations for the country's future. This input helped shape the seven national well-being goals, demonstrating the importance of involving the public in setting long-term objectives.

💡Environmental Impact

Environmental impact refers to the effect that activities and policies have on the natural environment. The video highlights various initiatives in Wales designed to reduce negative environmental impacts, such as creating green spaces in hospitals and implementing nature-based drainage solutions. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to promote sustainability and protect future generations.

💡Economic Prosperity

Economic prosperity means having a strong, stable economy that benefits all members of society. In the context of the video, Wales aims to achieve economic prosperity while also addressing inequality and sustainability. For instance, targeting green jobs to those furthest from the labor market helps reduce economic disparities and promote inclusive growth.

💡Public Institutions

Public institutions are government-funded organizations responsible for providing services to the public. The video discusses how Welsh public institutions are legally required to work towards long-term well-being goals. Examples include hospitals collaborating with botanical gardens and public health consultants leading transportation strategies to improve community health.

💡Interconnectedness

Interconnectedness refers to the interrelated nature of different aspects of well-being. The video stresses the need for public institutions to recognize connections between areas like public health, the environment, and economic development. For example, addressing air pollution benefits both health and environmental sustainability, illustrating how different well-being aspects are linked.

Highlights

Wales is the only country to legislate protection of interests for future generations and appoint an independent commissioner for this purpose.

Global systems often act short-term, discounting the interests of future generations and the planet.

A law in Wales requires government and public institutions to demonstrate long-term action and avoid harming future interests.

The role of the world's only future generations commissioner is to share lessons on improving the world for future generations.

Involving people in setting long-term goals is crucial, as demonstrated by the 'Wales We Want' national conversation.

Wales aims for a low-carbon economy, better health care, connected communities, and a more equal society.

Seven national well-being goals were legislated in Wales, with institutions accountable for meeting them.

Focusing on interconnections between different aspects of well-being is essential for holistic policy-making.

Welsh institutions have a legal duty to recognize connections between well-being aspects and work with diverse partners.

Well-being metrics should replace traditional economic growth measures to better assess government success.

Wales uses seven well-being goals as metrics for success, influencing policy decisions like transportation infrastructure.

Maximizing contribution to well-being should guide projects, such as targeting green jobs towards marginalized groups.

Holistic project planning is necessary to avoid unintended negative consequences in other areas.

Cardiff's public institutions collaborate to address air pollution, long commutes, and health disparities.

Public health consultants are working with local councils to develop sustainable transportation strategies.

Investment in cycling and walking infrastructure targets neighborhoods with the highest air pollution and lowest life expectancy.

Doctors in Cardiff can prescribe free bike hire to promote physical activity and improve public health.

Sustainable drainage systems in Cardiff remove excess water and create nature sites, improving community environments.

Traffic-free zones in Cardiff's city center foster community interaction and support local businesses.

Transcripts

Transcriber: TED Translators Admin Reviewer: Rhonda Jacobs

Wales is a small but progressive country,

the only country in the world to have legislated

to protect the interests of future generations,

the only country to have appointed someone independent to oversee this.

Across the world, our systems of government, of politics, of economics

have tended to act in the short term.

And often, the decisions that are taken

discount the interests of future generations and the planet.

But in Wales, we're trying to change that

by passing a law which requires not just our government

but all of our main public institutions

to demonstrate how they're acting for the long-term

and how the decisions they take don't harm the interests

of those yet to be born.

And so as a mum of five

and the world's only future generations commissioner,

I want to share with you today some of the lessons we've learned

about how we're trying to leave the world better than we found it.

First of all, you must involve people in setting long-term goals.

Ask them: What's the Wales or the world you want to leave behind

to your children and your grandchildren?

We held a national conversation -- the Wales We Want --

and people told us,

"We want a low-carbon economy.

We want you to help us keep people well

rather than just treat them when they're ill.

We want connected communities and a more equal Wales."

And our government legislated to set seven national well-being goals

to achieve that.

Each institution has to demonstrate how they're meeting those goals,

and they're held to account by me.

You have to focus on the interconnections between different aspects of well-being.

You need to talk often about why it's just as important to public health

as it is to the environment

to tackle high levels of air pollution,

why diversity in the workforce

is just as important to economic prosperity

as it is to addressing inequality.

Our institutions have a legal duty to act beyond their immediate remit

to recognize those connections,

work with unusual suspects.

And so we're seeing hospitals in Wales working with the National Botanic Gardens

to create spaces for nature on their sites.

We're seeing offices in our environmental agency

helping to find solutions to tackle childhood adversity.

Make well-being your metrics.

Test everything you do across the four pillars of well-being:

social, economic, environmental and cultural.

Because for too long,

governments have tested their success on the measures of economic growth

and increases in GVA.

But in Wales, our measures of success are around our seven well-being goals.

So when the government thought it was a good idea

to spend 1.4 billion pounds building a new motorway,

a simple application of these well-being metrics

told them that, actually, if you want to improve people's health,

if you want to meet your carbon emissions targets,

if you want to protect nature

and if you want to direct your resources to those with the lowest incomes,

a much better option would be public transport and active travel.

And so that's what they're doing.

Make it your mission to maximize your contribution to well-being.

So when we're seeing plans for economic stimulus in green jobs

and energy efficiency measures in homes post-COVID,

they're really good ideas.

But make sure you target those jobs

towards those furthest from the labor market,

because otherwise, you'll be missing opportunities to address inequality, too.

Think about your projects holistically.

Don't save carbon by putting solar panels on your new hospital

and then spend it in another area

by failing to consider how patients are going to travel there sustainably.

Well, in Cardiff, our capital city,

like many others across the world,

we're blighted by high levels of air pollution,

long commutes, congested roads

and big differences in life expectancy between the richest and the poorest.

So what is our act doing to make a difference?

Well, first of all, it requires our public institutions to work together.

And so, as a result, the public health consultant

was seconded from the health board to the local council

to lead on the transportation strategy.

And when you apply a public health lens to a transport problem,

you get a different set of solutions.

The public institutions realized that between them,

they were employing 30,000 people in Cardiff,

so they're now incentivizing their employees to travel sustainably.

We've seen a tenfold increase

in investment in safe routes to cycle and to walk,

and we've targeted that cycling and walking infrastructure

towards those neighborhoods who have the highest level of air pollution

and the lowest life expectancy.

And in Cardiff, doctors can issue prescriptions,

not just for statins, but for free bike hire

for those who would benefit from increasing their physical activity.

And when we've constructed our cycling infrastructure,

we've also built in sustainable drainage,

taking away over 40,000 cubic meters of water

from an unsustainable drainage system

through nature-based solutions.

And in doing that, we've created sites for nature,

we've cleaned and greened communities,

and we've transformed concrete jungles.

And when you travel from this area to our city center,

you'll be met with areas which are closed off to traffic,

where people can meet and businesses can trade

outside the splendor of our medieval castle.

So this is how we're embedding well-being in what we do in Wales.

This is how we're protecting the interests of future generations.

This is how we're acting today for a better tomorrow.