Dr. Tadhg O'Mahony:

Absolutely. There is value in, for example, the well-being framework that has been developed in Ireland. Typically, people will ask what those frameworks really change. If they are monitoring trends and doing programme evaluation, are they strategically changing where we are going? We probably need something like a future generations commissioner to do that. An institutional structure or actor that can start to change things is needed. We mentioned things like strategic approach, a central agency for biodiversity, management, enhancement restoration and funding. Institutional structures are needed as they allow you to consider where this can be implemented. Applying futures approaches can allow a different conversation to take place about where this can go and the focus can go on achieving win-win outcomes.

We have acknowledged that we have a crisis and when there is a crisis tweaking is not enough. That means transformation is needed. How do we envision transformation? Systems thinking is needed and it is necessary to look into the future for that. I echo Professor O'Hagan-Luff in pointing out that intergenerational dynamics come into this strongly and that voice starts to come through in where we go forward strategically. Deputy Whitmore pointed in that direction as well. We must examine how this is starting to land in changing policy. Is it just when it comes to budget time that we value some changes? It has a value in the policy process in changing some discussions but is it changing policy when we know we are in a biodiversity and climate crisis and when there are other public policy priorities that we need to platform more centrally?

In futures thinking they call it "Think, talk and act differently" and futures thinking provides a safe space to consider what it would mean if we put these priorities together and what that would look like in the future. The positive visions can become a motivator for change and people start to envision the possibility of win-win outcomes. There is lots of literature that says we can have these synergies and win-win scenarios by using that systemic and strategic approach. It is necessary to look at scenarios that can articulate where we can go. People must be involved in creating them so they have an ownership and their voices are heard.