Wales leading the way in sustainability
KEEP Wales Tidy has praised the value of groundbreaking legislation which is helping to improve the environment.
A year ago Wales led the way with the new Well-being of Future Generations (WFG) Act, putting it in the spotlight as the first nation to enshrine sustainable development in law.
The legislation defines seven well-being goals for Wales and places a statutory duty on the public sector to consider them in decision-making.
Keep Wales Tidy chief executive Lesley Jones said it helped the organisation deliver in areas like environmental education, training, business services and environmental solutions and contribute to high standards for parks, beaches, marinas and tourism in Wales through its range of internationally-accredited awards.
“The WFG Act has established a vision for our future which we share with our partners in local authorities, businesses, communities, schools and other not for profit organisations, and supports the discussions around shared priorities,” she said.
“Only by working together to drive change will we be able to prioritise well-being for individuals, communities, Wales and the world. We have been given an excellent opportunity to showcase what Wales is doing and share learning with our international partners.”
The new approach in Wales was praised by Nikhil Seth, director for sustainable development at the United Nations.
“The Wales Future Generations Act captures the spirit and essence of two decades of United Nations work in the area of sustainable development and serves as a model for other regions and countries,” he said. “We hope that what Wales is doing today the world will do tomorrow. Action, more than words, is the hope for our current and future generations.”
Lesley Griffiths, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, echoed the brave steps Wales has taken in the area of sustainable development.
“The anniversary of the Well-being of Future Generations Act is an opportunity to highlight the progress made in the past year,” she said. “Wales continues to lead the way with sustainability legislation recognised by the UN as “a model for other regions and countries”.
“According to a recent report we are also the third best recycling nation in the world. Steps like these can contribute not only to the environmental well-being of Wales, but also to our social, economic, and cultural well-being too. It’s also positive to have pioneers like Lesley Jones advancing our position on a global platform with her recent appointment as President of the Global Foundation for Environmental Education.
“We have good foundations on which we will continue to build a better and more sustainable Wales.”