The informal Governmental Group of Friends for Future Generations, co-chaired by the Ambassadors of Kenya and Ireland is focused on advancing initiatives to give voice to future generations within the UN System.

Sophie Howe, the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, pictured with Mary Robinson, of the Mary Robinson Foundation
Sophie Howe, the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, pictured with Mary Robinson, of the Mary Robinson Foundation

It is comprised of over 20 New York based Permanent Representatives to the UN. The group have endorsed the proposal for Global Guardians for Future Generations, based upon a position paper by the Mary Robinson Foundation. Global Guardians for Future Generations will ensure that the decisions taken today are informed by the needs of future generations and that the UN can play a leading role in securing intra- and inter-generational equity globally. Global Guardians would represent, advocate for and give voice to future generations. The Guardians could represent countries at different levels of development and in so doing help to balance the needs of current generations living in poverty and underdevelopment with the economic, social and environmental needs of future generations. In addition, a UN resolution on the ‘Protection of Global Climate for Present and Future Generations’ has been adopted.

The Commissioner wholeheartedly endorses the Global Guardians initiative and recently wrote an article for The Elders. You can find this here.