Climate change named as biggest challenge for Wales' future

The biggest challenge for the future of Wales is climate change, according to a new survey. The future generations of the country will have to deal with numerous issues brought about by global warming, creating a range of challenges, the survey said. These findings coincide with a new government bill that will see sustainability as one of the most important factors when it comes to creating new legislation and policies.

The survey included respondents from a number of NGOs, networks, and business and community groups. Around 69.5 per cent of these said that the environment and the effects of climate change were the most important issues when it comes to Wale's future wellbeing. This meant that global warming was placed ahead of housing (42.8 per cent), health (65.2 per cent) and employment (69 per cent).

These results have been released as part of a report from the Wales We Want project, which was launched in February to find out what residents of Wales want the country to be like by the time 2050 rolls around. 

Peter Davies, the Welsh commissioner for sustainable futures and author of the report, said: “Our daily lives are increasingly driven by short term pressures, and we tend to forget that decisions made today will shape the world for future generations. In a very short space of time, the National Conversation struck a chord with people across the country who grasped this opportunity to focus on their aspirations for ‘The Wales We Want’ for the benefit of our children and grandchildren."

The survey asked respondents to look past the current challenges and pressures faced in Wales to see what could affect the country by 2050, Mr Davies continued. It hoped to emphasise the point that those who live in Wales have a responsibility when it comes to making it a better place.

Mr Davies hopes that the results of the survey will help to inform the Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Bill, making it a better piece of legislation.