Ep. 039: The Act That Could Change the World

·59 min·4 clips

A grandmother's simple math reveals the stark reality of planning for future generations: her family will span 200 years of life, but can't promise the same peaceful century her mother enjoyed.

Jane Davidson introduces herself as a farmer, mother, and grandmother living on a 13-acre organic smallholding in West Wales, but her influence on Welsh policy has been transformative. Her childhood in Zimbabwe, where she witnessed the profound unfairness of racial segregation, instilled a lifelong passion for justice and fairness that would later drive her political career. Growing up in Africa also gave her an extraordinary connection to nature, experiencing wildlife in ways that shaped her environmental consciousness. After being forced to leave Zimbabwe, she brought these formative experiences to Wales, where she pursued careers in teaching, youth work, anti-poverty activism, and eventually politics. Davidson explains that the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act builds on the UN's 1992 definition of sustainable development - meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs. When Wales gained its first devolved government in 1999, it uniquely included a duty to promote sustainable development, though Davidson discovered this duty was legally meaningless. The breakthrough came in 2011 when Wales gained primary lawmaking powers, allowing Davidson to propose transforming the duty to promote into a duty to deliver. The Act, passed in 2015, establishes seven wellbeing goals: prosperous, resilient, healthier, more equal, cohesive communities, vibrant culture with thriving Welsh language, and globally responsible Wales. These must be delivered through five ways of working: thinking long-term, preventatively, collaboratively, integrating outcomes, and involving affected people. The Act applies to all Welsh public services and government, with accountability through an independent Future Generations Commissioner, modified Auditor General role, and judicial review options. Davidson emphasizes this represents a complete system change, not just individual good practices. She cites examples of the Act's impact: Wales' universal basic income pilot for care leavers, the 2023 roads review stopping projects that failed climate assessments, the 2021 ban on smacking children, and the controversial 20mph speed limit that has reduced deaths and emissions. Wales has also become one of the world's top three recycling countries, pioneered carrier bag charges later adopted across the UK, and developed an innovative curriculum emphasizing outdoor learning and play. Davidson acknowledges the communication challenges, particularly around divisive policies like speed limits, emphasizing the importance of solid academic underpinning for all policy decisions. She describes the Act as giving 'permission to think differently' and notes how young people consistently prioritize having a livable planet and meaningful work contributing to social and environmental good. The Future Generations Commissioner's Academy trains young public sector workers to drive system change within their organizations. Davidson reflects on the courage required for transformative policy, noting that Wales' size makes it ideal for piloting important actions while being small enough to get key partners together for crucial discussions. She concludes by emphasizing the need for evidence-based policy making and creative communication strategies to engage people where they are, not where policymakers want them to be.

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