Testimonials

Sophie Howe

Chair of NIFG, Commissioner for Future Generations – Wales

I am very honoured to Chair this important Network as we continue to provide a voice for future generations across the world. The Network offers an opportunity for nations to work together to combat present and future challenges. We’ve all got a part to play in the well-being of the planet and its peoples.

Professor Gyula Bándi

Ombudsman for Future Generations, Deputy-Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, Hungary

Functioning as an official agent of the “green consciousness” of society, raising awareness on every level of decision making lies at the heart of my work. I believe that sometimes altering the main course comes about through several small steps taken in the right direction. Besides investigating individual complaints, I strive towards establishing a legal environment that provides better chances for environmental interests and gives less grounds for complaints.

Jan van de Venis

Human Rights Lawyer, WorldConnectors member, Vice-Chair of NIFG

How we act today has an influence on the world future generations will live in: through our economy, our social systems, how we treat our planet, and so forth, we create today what they will inherit tomorrow. The moral imperative we all agree on: ‘we should not restrict future generations in their freedom to choose their own future’, should become a legally binding rule, monitored by independent institutions. Let’s create that sustainable legacy full of social, environmental and economical wealth.

Catherine Pearce

Director of Future Justice, World Future Council, Vice-Chair of NIFG

[…] a network […]: It helps us to open up opportunities for collaboration, to further serve to advance a sustainable future and the principle of intergenerational justice within and beyond these countries which offices are operating to together collate and disseminate information, to facilitate and enhance exchange of experiences and good practice, to develop a depository to research papers and analyses, articles, publications, etc., and finally to identify opportunities for cooperation between offices and similar bodies on a bilateral, regional, interregional and global level.

Ban Ki-moon

Former Secretary-General of the United Nations

A small minority of countries, many of which are represented here in Budapest, have created institutions that are formally entrusted with protecting the interests of future generations. I hope more and more countries will adopt this approach until becames standard around the World.

Peter Davies

Former Sustainable Futures Commissioner, Wales

Sustainable development has been at the heart of the devolution process in Wales. The new Sustainable Development Bill will be an opportunity to introduce a stronger governance model to ensure we can make decisions that are fit for purpose in the long term, promoting social justice and operating within environmental limits.

John Lotherington

Chair, Foundation for Democracy and Sustainable Development

What we must do is to use our imaginations, first and foremost, what we must do is to start thinking about what the future might look like. We can use science, of course, and we must look at all the evidence about where we are heading, we must understand that we are in a dynamic world, the change is emergent and it is happening all the time, and we must like doctors ask ourselves, first of all, the question, first do no harm, how do you do no harm as you try make the world a better place.

Judge C. G. Weeramantry

Former Vice-President of the International Court of Justice

We do not have the right to exploit the Earth' resources just because we are living here and now, and we have the means to exploit them. They are entrusted to us, and international law I believe and I say so with confidence has accepted the principle that we are trustees of these resources. And we must hold them with all the obligations and the care that the trustee would devote to our trust."