In his report Our Common Agenda (2021) the UN Secretary-General proposed the appointment of a Special Envoy for Future Generations.
The UNSG noted that the Special Envoy could be tasked with representing the interests of those who are expected to be born over the coming century, and that the Special Envoy could also support the work of the multilateral system on long-term thinking and foresight. In addition, he proposed that “One of the first tasks of the Special Envoy could be to explore, together with Member States, the use of the Trusteeship Council to give a voice to succeeding generations.”
Considerable traction was generated for the establishment of the UN Special Envoy for Future Generations in the preparations for the Summit of the Future which was held in September 2024. Advocacy for this proposal was undertaken by MEGA in cooperation with the World Future Council, Earth Governance ImPACT Coalition and ImPACT Coalition on Future Generations (established at the 2024 UN Civil Society Conference). This included a major campaign event on September 5, 2024 entitled Protecting the Rights and Wellbeing of Future Generations through Institutional Representatives.
This provided the UNSG with sufficient support to decide in October 2024 to establish the position, and start the process of developing a mandate and operational plan for it. (See One big step closer to a UN Special Envoy on Future Generations).
In addition, the World Future Council and other MEGA cosponsoring organizations call for the appointment of similar Representatives of Future Generations at regional, national and local levels with authority to design and review policies to safeguard their rights. (See World Future Council proposal to the UN Summit of the Future). The Office of the Wales Commissioner for Future Generations, established by the 2015 Wellbeing of Future Generations Act (Wales), is an example of such a body that has already been established. For additional examples, see the Network of Institutions for Future Generations.