Our way of life threatens future generations

"We adults have a significant responsibility to pass on the planet in a sustainable way, but unless we take drastic action now, this will be extremely problematic," says Marianne Takle.

Takle is a researcher at NOVA – Norwegian Social Research, OsloMet, and author of the book Showing Social Solidarity with Future Generations. Her research examines the gap between the commitments made in various national and global agreements and the corresponding policies in practice.

Signs point to worsening conditions

"There is a significant disconnect between how politicians claim they are addressing these responsibilities and how they follow through. If serious action is not taken now, the consequences will be severe," Takle warns. Future genereations will experience more severe weather (science.org).

Future generations cannot address these issues themselves. They are excluded from the political decisions that will critically shape their lives. – Marianne Takle

She refers to alarming projections: today’s six-year-olds are expected to experience twice as many wildfires and tropical cyclones, three times more river floods, four times more crop failures, five times more droughts, and 36 times more heatwaves than today’s 55-year-olds. 

"We who are alive now must take action to influence the future of our ecosystems," she emphasises.

"Future generations cannot address these issues themselves. They are excluded from the political decisions that will critically shape their lives. The combination of our immense influence and their lack of agency gives the current adult generation a profound responsibility."

While some measures have been implemented, Takle notes that practices vary widely.

"At the same time, there is clear rhetoric about our obligations to ‘consider future generations,’ but interpretations of this commitment differ greatly."

What is unequivocal, however, is that today’s adults have a unique opportunity to shape the ecosystems and well-being of future generations.

"The growing threat to future generations is a major reason I chose to write this book. It has been fascinating to investigate how governments fulfil—or fail to fulfil—their responsibilities."

Shortcomings at multiple levels

"Unfortunately, I found shortcomings at multiple levels, both nationally and globally. Here in Norway, for instance, it is paradoxical that the government declares, ‘We must ensure the preservation of nature for future generations,’ while simultaneously managing the Government Pension Fund Global (aka the Oil Fund), which aims to ‘secure the long-term management of income from Norway’s oil and gas resources for the benefit of both current and future generations.’"

Globally, the implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reveals a significant gap between promises and actions.

"The disconnect can be found in the transition from global agreements to national implementation. The political institutions meant to safeguard future generations within nation-states are weak or nonexistent. Furthermore, legal commitments in constitutions are not always upheld in courts, although climate litigation has opened new political avenues," says Takle.

The political institutions meant to safeguard future generations within nation-states are weak or nonexistent. – Marianne Takle

Failing to uphold commitments

To ensure that future generations—defined in Takle’s book as today’s children and those who have not yet been born—inherit a healthy planet, action must be strengthened across many fronts.

"The 17 SDGs outlined in the UN’s Agenda 2030 are essentially a roadmap for transitioning the world toward sustainability. However, the major challenge is that nation-states fail to follow through on the commitments they have made."

"It’s far from smooth sailing, she adds, reminding us that member states agreed just last autumn to adopt a Pact for the Future to ensure that the UN’s Agenda 2030 is translated into political action."

Takle acknowledges that Norway excels in areas such as social and economic progress but points out that the country performs poorly in reducing CO2 emissions from fossil fuel exports and in land conservation, protecting far too few areas.

Falling short

In her book, Takle examines four policy areas where commitments to future generations are explicitly expressed and analyses the extent to which these commitments are upheld:

1. The UN’s Agenda 2030 and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals
2. National political institutions focused on future generations
3. Constitutional provisions for the consideration of future generations
4. Regulations on national public debt or savings for future generations

"I examined practices in Norway and Germany, as these countries argue that they take future generations into concern in these areas."

"The Norwegian Constitution states that we must preserve nature for posterity—that is, for future generations."

The Norwegian Constitution states that we must preserve nature for posterity. – Marianne Takle

Takle’s work is grounded in the concept of solidarity, which she defines as reciprocal support among equals. However, since it can be challenging to imagine being iin solidarity with people not yet born, she has developed a concept of solidarity with two components:

1. Indirect reciprocity: This means giving something to one person without expecting the same individual to give back. “This principle underpins the welfare state, and such reciprocity can also extend across generations.”
2. Institutional commitments: A willingness to establish self-imposed institutional constraints to ensure the transfer of resources to future generations. According to Takle, these institutional constraints must supersede daily politics, compelling political authorities to pursue long-term goals. 

"The Norwegian Constitution stands above day-to-day politics, and Article 112 is an excellent example of such an institutional commitment. It stipulates that we must preserve nature for posterity, meaning for future generations."

The book is part of the research project Sustainable Societies in the 21st Century: From Welfare States to Eco-Social States (WEST).