Our Legacy, Our Futures: Taking the Longer View- UK Governance for a Finite Planet

Peter Roderick is a public interest environmental lawyer. He joined The Gaia Foundation for an evening this June to share the findings of his report "Taking the Longer View: UK Governance for a Finite Planet". With him in this discussion, chaired by Philippe Sands, QC and law professor, were Dr Janos Zlinszky, Senior Advisor for Environmental Policy to the previous President of Hungary, and Halina Ward, director of the Foundation for Democracy and Sustainable Development.

The discussion highlights the systematic failings of our short-term approach to law and democracy, which have culminated in a series of 'crunches' including high fuel prices and the risk of peak oil, high food prices, the financial crisis and the climate crisis. Janos Zlinszky shares the inspiring precedent of Hungary's Ombudsman for Future Generations. Halina Ward discusses short-termism and introduces the Alliance for Future Generations, an organisation formed to ensure that the needs of future generations are put at the heart of democracy. Peter Roderick argues that Planetary Boundaries should be used as a legal methodology in order to protect out environment and society in years to come.

To find out more please visit http://www.gaiafoundation.org/

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• future
• governance
• democracy
• law
• sustainable development
• planetary boundaries
• earth jurisprudence
• wild law