Building Resilience

Well-being of Future Generations Act and theEnvironment (Wales) Bill

Emily Finney – Resilience Policy, Welsh Government

The Act The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015

is about improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales.

It will make public bodies listed in the Act think more about the long term, work better together with people and communities and each other, look to prevent problems and take a more joined-up approach.

This will help us create a Wales that we all want to live in, now and in the future.

To make sure we are all working towards the same vision, the Act puts in place seven well-being goals.

A more equal Wales

A wales of cohesive

communities

Economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales

Ensure that the needs of the present are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. A public body must take into account:

Long-term

Prevention

Involvement

Integration

Collaboration

To improve the economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of its area by:•Assessing the state of well-being•Setting objectives to maximise contribution within the area to the well-being goals•Publish a Well-being Plan - taking reasonable steps to meet those objectives

Doing so in accordance with the sustainable development principle.

What led to the WFG Act and the Environment Bill?

Short term thinking, not thinking about the long term.

Working in policy and organisation silos.

Separate solutions to common problems.

Greater awareness of connections between issues (environment, economy, society).

Needs of whole populations.

Long term trends and challenges.

The evidence is clear from recent reports such as the UK National Ecosystem Assessment on the state of UK ecosystems showing declining ecosystem services as well as continuing declines in biodiversity reported in the 2013 State of Nature Report

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Environment (Wales) Bill – part by part• Part 1: Sustainable Management of Natural Resources

• Part 2: Climate Change

• Part 3: Charges for Carrier Bags

• Part 4: Collection and Disposal of Waste

• Part 5: Fisheries for Shellfish

• Part 6: Marine Licensing

• Part 7: Miscellaneous• Establishment of Flood and Coastal Erosion Committee• Repeal of Land Drainage Act 1991 publishing requirements• Powers of entry: Agricultural Land Drainage Orders

Environment (Wales) Bill

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Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR)

The objective of Part 1 is to manage our natural resources in a way and at a rate that can maintain and enhance the resilience of our ecosystems whilst meeting the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Environment (Wales) Bill

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Environment (Wales) Bill

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State of Natural

Resources Report

(SoNaRR)

State of Natural

Resources Report

(SoNaRR)

Area Statements

National Natural

Resource Policy

(NNRP)

National Natural

Resource Policy

(NNRP)

The priorities identified in the National Policy will be delivered at a local level through Area Statements produced by NRW.

Collaboration opportunities for different bodies to work together in the delivery of SMNR

Rationalise plans

The State of Natural Resources Report (SoNaRR), produced by NRW, will report on the status of Wales’ natural resources and track the progress being made towards achieving the sustainable management of natural resources. It will also serve as an essential evidence base to underpin the NNRP.

The National Natural Resource Policy will set out the priorities for the sustainable management of natural resources at a national level. It will outline how the sustainable management of Wales’ natural resources will provide benefits to society and the economy as well as the environment, supporting the goals outlined in the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act.

Sustainable management of natural resources

Public Service Boards will be required to take account of area statements in their area when preparing local well-being assessments

Key challenges and areas for actionhttp://gov.wales/docs/desh/publications/150914-natural-resources-policy-statement-en.pdf

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Emerging challenges, priorities and opportunities for SMNR

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Multiple benefitsThank you!