9. Short Debate: The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015: Envy of the world?

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:23 pm on 8 December 2021.

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Photo of Rhys ab Owen Rhys ab Owen Plaid Cymru 6:23, 8 December 2021

(Translated)

This is what the future generations Act was supposed to accomplish. But, after six years, and many court cases later, we see that the Act does not have the necessary powers to achieve its laudable objectives. I will concede that the Act, to an extent, has changed the way that we think. Some Welsh councils have declared a nature emergency and some other public bodies have taken some positive steps to be greener. But, this doesn't go far enough. It is meaningless to have declarations and the best intentions if specific actions do not follow. It is meaningless to acknowledge objectives if they can be avoided when they are inconvenient. It is meaningless to have even the most ambitious Act if it cannot be used to hold public bodies to account when they breach that Act.