The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015-A Step Change in the Legal Protection of the Interests of Future Generations?

The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 breaks new ground in the legal protection of the rights and interests of future generations. This article examines the nature of the duties which the Act imposes on public bodies in Wales and analyses the enforcement and accountability measures designed to ensure that the duty is discharged in practice such that sustainable development becomes the central organising principle of public governance in Wales. In particular the role and powers of the Future Generations Commissioner are scrutinised and it is concluded that the Commissioner could be highly influential in fostering sustainable development in Wales but some notes of caution are sounded in relation to the influence of the political cycle and the resourcing of the Commissioner's role.