Foresight for sustainable development and well-being governance in Wales report
Published on 30 January 2024
Following a year-long research project investigating the use of futures and foresight practices across the Welsh Government, the Sustainable Futures Division has just published Dr Laura De Vito‘s report, Foresight for sustainable development and well-being governance in Wales. Laura is an ACCESS Leadership College Fellow and has recently finished a fellowship placement with the Welsh Government.
The report includes results from a series of pilot projects designed to improve futures and foresight capabilities in Welsh Government, detailed responses from officials working in several other national governments and a set of recommendations geared to further develop and embed futures and foresight practices in Wales.
For those who are unfamiliar with futures and foresight, the report provides a very useful overview of different practices, techniques, and opportunities for further learning.
As Dr De Vito outlines:
‘Foresight enhances well‑being and sustainable development governance by integrating long‑term perspectives and supporting policymakers in acknowledging and navigating uncertainty and understanding the long‑term consequences of decisions.’
‘The Well-being of Future Generations Act constitutes a transformative platform upon which the Welsh Government can build on. Under this legislative framework, Welsh Government has the opportunity to address current futures literacy gaps, unlock mechanisms to overcome barriers, and embed long‑term thinking in the Welsh public sector.’
The research project was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and conducted in collaboration with the University of the West of England, where Dr De Vito is a Senior Research Fellow at the Air Quality Management Resource Centre.
Find out more about Laura’s fellowship placement in the Welsh Government here