Future Generations
How Wales' Future Generations Act is inspiring action for a resilient Powys
Wellbeing of Future Generations Act in Action
Why the Future Generations Act matters to Powys
The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 is ground-breaking legislation designed to improve the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales.
At its heart is the sustainable development principle: decisions today must seek to ensure that the needs of the present are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
The Act requires public bodies to:
- Take a long-term view
- Prevent problems getting worse
- Work collaboratively
- Involve communities
- Integrate decisions across sectors
These duties shape how the Powys Public Services Board (PSB) responds to the climate emergency and strengthens resilience across the county.
‘A future will happen whether we think about it or not but thinking about the long-term can help us navigate an increasingly complex and uncertain world in a way that reduces risk and unlocks opportunities.’ Derek Walker Future Generations Commissioner |
Futures Thinking
Climate change demands long-term thinking. The impacts of today’s decisions will shape Powys for decades.
Futures methods help us:
- Explore different possible futures
- Challenge assumptions
- Design actions that remain resilient over time
- Move beyond short-term “firefighting”
This strengthens all Five Ways of Working above, particularly long-term and prevention.
The Future Generations Chair
The Resilient Powys event in February 2026 inaugurated a Powys Future Generations Chair where the carved Welsh oak seat was tied with the names of young loved ones and supported structured futures reflection exercises.
The chair now represents people who will live with the consequences of today’s decisions.
The aim is for the chair to be used across Powys to ensure long-term wellbeing remains visible during discussions and major decisions.
Its purpose is simple — to keep future generations present in today’s choices.
Time travel: exploring seven generations
At the Resilient Powys event, participants took part in a guided “time travel” reflection exercise.
They were invited to:
- Reflect on past environmental conditions in Powys
- Consider present climate risks such as flooding, wildfire and rising costs
- Imagine the world a child today might inherit at the end of the century
This exercise helped ground discussions in empathy, legacy and long-term responsibility.
Future food time-travel pilot
Future Food was an arts-based engagement project that encouraged young people to explore how food systems have changed — and how they could change again.
Through immersive storytelling and interactive workshops, pupils examined food production from 1939 to 2039 and created their own future-focused documentaries.
The project:
- Encouraged intergenerational dialogue
- Connected climate, food and wellbeing
- Built confidence in young people to engage in decision-making
Unlocking futures thinking
Find out more about tools, techniques and activities to engage groups in long-term thinking.
Long-term Thinking - Future Generations Wales Long+Time+Project_Long+Time+Tools.pdf (External Link)