Climate change impacts are increasing globally. A climate justice perspective highlights that impacts are unevenly felt, with vulnerable groups and future generations facing significantly greater impacts even if current goals are met. Recognition of future generations in policy is attracting increasing attention internationally, with the United Nations General Assembly adopting a resolution on the Pact for the Future in September 2024. However, there has been little research into the current state of existing future generations policy around the world, and how these existing policies might support or hinder climate action. The aim of this article is to compare and contrast national legislation and policies that consider future generations and relate these to key climate change policy areas. Targeted website searches located 59 national constitutions and 44 national and international policy documents that acknowledged future generations. Analysis of the context in which future generations are mentioned shows that it is commonly linked to natural resource and environmental issues that are aligned with the human system impacts highlighted by the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report. The results suggest that greater focus on future generations could support a climate justice and greater climate action.
Policy implications
- An increasing focus on the rights of future generations, leaning on constitutional provisions and policy, could be used to support a climate justice approach to climate action.
- Future generations are recognised in 59 national constitutions, mainly with respect to natural resources and the environment.
- Future generations policy overlaps closely with key climate change impact policy areas, which could provide policymakers with mechanisms to encourage greater climate action.
- Policymakers can use the UN Pact for the Future as a roadmap to advance policy and strategic frameworks at a national level to support intergenerational and climate justice.
Photo by Vincent M.A. Janssen