Sophie Howe: The First Commissioner for Future Generations in Wales
In the first four months of 2025, 56 Norwegian citizens gathered to discuss the best ways to utilize their country’s vast oil wealth for the benefit of current and future generations, both locally and globally. Unlike traditional policies where decision-making is dominated by elected officials and experts, this “Future Forum”—the second of its kind in Norway—provided ordinary citizens, selected through a representative mechanism and equipped with necessary knowledge, the opportunity to formulate recommendations based on informed discussion.
This forum was established by seven civil society organizations—WWF Norway, Save the Children Norway, Caritas Norway, the organization “The Future in Our Hands,” the Norwegian Children and Youth Council, and the think tank “Landsmøte” —to conduct a data-driven public discussion about Norway’s wealth, aiming to amplify the people’s voice on this crucial issue ahead of the general elections in September.
By adopting a bolder model of consultative democracy focused on long-term collective good rather than short-term political interests, Norway sets a precedent that other countries may follow. Perhaps most importantly, on May 13, the forum presented its recommendations to the Norwegian Parliament, formally calling for a legal framework that includes appointing a special commissioner to protect the interests of future generations. If this framework is implemented, it would demonstrate that citizen-led movements can bring about a fundamental shift in governance methods.
I personally experienced the potential of such a transformation when I was the first Commissioner for Future Generations in Wales, which enacted the Well-being of Future Generations Act in 2015. This law mandates that public institutions consider the long-term consequences of their decisions, ensuring the integration of sustainability and intergenerational justice principles in policy-making.
The law resulted from a year-long national dialogue—also a form of consultative democracy. In 2014, the Welsh government invited citizens to discuss the kind of state they wanted to leave for their children and grandchildren, and their responses contributed to formulating seven long-term well-being goals, which have become the “North Star” guiding policymakers.
Today, there is a growing momentum worldwide supporting such legislation. In September, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a declaration on future generations, urging governments to embed long-term thinking within their institutional structures.
Norway may have an even more impactful opportunity given the size of its sovereign wealth fund, which amounts to $1.8 trillion. With the acceleration of climate change and increasing economic uncertainty, Norway needs a new vision for managing this wealth that ensures the well-being of the planet and its communities.
The first challenge Norway must confront is its heavy reliance on fossil fuels, as it is one of the world’s largest oil exporters. Despite its commitments to achieve ambitious climate goals, including net-zero emissions by 2050, the country continues to expand oil exploration activities, ignoring global calls for a systematic reduction in fossil fuel production, as well as the vulnerability of its natural environments—from polar tundras to expansive fjords—to environmental degradation. Norway also faces the challenge of transitioning to a post-oil economy amid the global shift towards renewable energy, requiring a thoughtful economic diversification to avoid losses, protect workers, and ensure a just transition.
Enacting a Norwegian law similar to the Welsh model would incorporate intergenerational responsibility into public policy decisions, ensuring a balance between social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being for both present and future generations. In this context, a commissioner for future generations could serve as an independent voice advocating for balance, drawing attention to policies that contradict the goals of the law, and holding political leaders accountable for achieving that balance.
Today’s challenges demonstrate the peril of neglecting the future in public policy. Issues like climate change and demographic shifts often stem from short-sighted decisions and a deliberate disregard for accurate data and future trends. What happens, for instance, when Norway, which is experiencing an increasing aging population, faces extreme heat waves that could strain its already burdened healthcare system?
However, long-term thinking is not limited to preventing crises; it opens the horizon for building a better and more hopeful future. The Welsh model has already provided the government and institutions with a vision that transcends electoral cycles. Since policies have become more forward-looking, the priority has shifted towards investing in public transportation rather than building roads, emphasizing preventive healthcare instead of merely treating patients, and even revitalizing the Welsh language that once faced extinction.
The Future Forum in Norway has spoken, and now the government stands at a crossroads. Will Norway lead the world in long-term political planning, ensuring that its oil wealth serves future generations? Or will it continue to make short-sighted decisions that perpetuate crises, forcing children and grandchildren to rectify the mistakes of their ancestors?
If the wishes of Norwegian citizens are to be respected, Norway must embrace its responsibility to contribute to building a world that promotes human well-being and justice.
