
Testimonials - Network of Institutions for Future Generations
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."
News


Building Our Common Future - The role of the Network of Institutions for Future Generations in safeguarding the future

"Looking to 2030 and Beyond - How Institutions for Future Generations Can Assist in SDG Implementation” - NIFG's Discussion Paper is now released

2018 NIFG report

Sophie Howe, Chair of NIFG at the UN High Level Political Forum in New York, July 2018

Case-law on the rights of future generations

Framework Principles on Human Rights and the Environment

Well-being of Future Generations Bill - Wales

Sustainable Development and the Rights of Future Generations Commission in Tunisia
Events
Budapest Conference
Cardiff Conference
Helsinki Conference
The Hague Conference
Members of our Roundtable
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Committee for the Future - Finland
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Parliamentary Advisory Council on Sustainable Development - Germany
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Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development - Canada
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Commissioner for Future Generations - Wales
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Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment - New Zealand
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Former Commissioner for Future Generations - Israel
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Ombudsman for Children - Norway
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Ombudsman for Future Generations - Hungary
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Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment - Australia Capital Territory