Future Tense A declaration on future generations
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Nov 17, 2024 Professor Thomas Hale, a global public policy expert from Oxford, discusses the UN's Declaration on Future Generations and its potential significance. Professor Brett Bowden critiques our obsession with the present and its impact on visionary thinking. Meanwhile, Professor Julia Backmann shares insights from Germany's four-day work week trial, revealing its effects on productivity and employee well-being. The conversation navigates moral obligations, ethical governance, and the balance between present enjoyment and future stewardship.
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UN's Focus on Future Generations
- The UN's founding charter prioritizes future generations, aiming to prevent catastrophes like World War II.
- The declaration gives meaning to the need for long-term approaches, as seen with COVID-19, by addressing emerging crises.
Defining Future Generations
- The declaration defines future generations as those who come after us and emphasizes countries' commitment to safeguard their needs.
- This reflects a widespread moral intuition present in nearly every religion, philosophy, or ethical system.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights initially seemed lofty but led to significant changes in how governments addressed human rights.
- This demonstrates the potential of international agreements to influence norms and governance over time.
