Imagine cities designed for well-being rather than congestion, economies that measure success by quality of life rather than mere output, and policies that anticipate and prevent crises rather than merely reacting to them. The future is not something that just happens to us, it is something we actively shape.
The future of our cities—and indeed, our planet—hinges on the decisions we make today. What if we designed policies that didn’t just serve us today but ensured a thriving world for our children and grandchildren? Sophie Howe, the world’s first Future Generations Commissioner, argues that universally we are notoriously bad at thinking long-term.
In Wales, this radical idea has already taken shape as a «Future Generations Act». The Welsh model demonstrates that long-term planning is not just an idealistic concept but it actually works. It has led to major policy shifts, from reimagining education and piloting universal basic income to banning single-use plastics. Crucially, it has placed citizens at the core of governance. Through initiatives like “The Wales We Want,” people were asked a fundamental question: What kind of country do you want to leave behind? The responses shaped Wales’ seven well-being goals, ensuring that progress is measured not just by GDP but by quality of life, equity, and sustainability.
There are many critical questions and various approaches to consider. How do we reform a system to think long-term, where leaders are not evaluated on mere immediate success but on the long-term sustainability of their policies? Like the Future Generations Act in Wales, governments can introduce laws requiring decision-makers to consider long-term impacts.
How do we make our systems join up in order to create interconnected policies that address both between climate and an aging population, health care and urban planning? For example, Investing in early interventions, such as better housing and public transport, reduces long-term healthcare costs while also reducing carbon footprint.
How do we capitalise on automation and artificial intelligence to reduce the working hours, enhancing quality of life and well-being of citizens, potentially mitigating the rising mental health challenges we are beginning to face? Instead of displacing workers, automation should be coupled with retraining programs to ensure smooth transition into future-proof careers. Instead of optimizing solely for profit, artificial intelligence can be applied in various ways enhancing social well-being: better mental health diagnostics, smart urban design, personalized care for the elderly, etc.
Sophie Howe emhpasizes that isolated successes or fragmented solutions are insufficient. The complexity of global challenges ahead demand a collective response. Innovation must be fostered, not as scattered experiments but as integral elements of systemic transformation, one that places people at the centre, empowering them as the driving force behind meaningful and lasting change.
To truly reshape our future, we must foster a mindset of shared responsibility, where governments, businesses, and communities work together with a vision that extends beyond election cycles and profits-based thinking. The greatest transformations in history were not the result of short-term thinking but of bold, visionary leadership combined with grassroots momentum.
Engaging people in shaping their future, as Wales did with “The Wales We Want,” ensures that created policies reflect real societal needs.
The core challenge is shifting from reactive governance to anticipatory, preventative, and systemic reform. How do you see these ideas taking shape in your own city or country? Would love to hear your thoughts on the biggest barriers to making this happen.