Future-Proofing Europe: How EU Member States Protect Future Generations

• Finland:

Committee for the Future: A standing committee in the Finnish Parliament, it functions as a think tank on future-related matters, assessing long-term trends and their implications for policy-making.

• Germany:

Parliamentary Advisory Council on Sustainable Development: This body advises the Bundestag on sustainability issues, ensuring that legislation aligns with sustainable development principles to benefit future generations.

• Hungary:

Parliamentary Commissioner for Future Generations: Established in 2008, this ombudsman-like institution is dedicated to protecting the rights of future generations by overseeing environmental and sustainability issues.

• Latvia: 

Environmental Protection and Regional Development Ministry: The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM) is the primary governmental body responsible for implementing policies related to environmental sustainability and regional development. Its role includes ensuring that Latvia’s natural resources are protected and that sustainable practices are embedded in various sectors, which helps safeguard the interests of future generations.

• Lithuania:

Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania: While not an institutional mechanism per se, this national library plays a crucial role in preserving the country’s documentary cultural heritage for future generations. Its goals include the accumulation and preservation of Lithuanian documentary cultural heritage and ensuring its access, actively participating in the knowledge society creation process, and developing its activities and services using modern information technologies to assist the learning and development processes of Lithuanian people.

• Malta:

Guardian of Future Generations: Established under the Sustainable Development Act of 2012, this role nsures that the needs of future generations are considered in national policies and strategies.

• Austria:

Austrian Strategy for Sustainable Development: Austria has adopted in 2010 a comprehensive strategy focusing on sustainable development, aiming to balance economic growth, environmental protection, and social equity to benefit future generations.

• Czech Republic: 

Sustainable Energy Transition: The Czech Republic is actively working to transform its energy sector to balance energy security with environmental sustainability. 

• Latvia:

Sustainable Development Strategy: Latvia has implemented a long-term strategy emphasising sustainable development, environmental protection, and the well-being of future generations.

• Malta: 

Malat’s sustainable development strategy for 2050: Malta’s Sustainable Development Strategy for 2050 serves as an overarching framework guiding the country’s efforts toward sustainable development. It aligns with the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Several European Union (EU) member states have incorporated provisions in their constitutions to protect the rights and interests of future generations. Below are the specific articles from the constitutions of these countries:

• Belgium:

Article 7bis: “In the exercise of their respective competences, the federal State, the Communities and the Regions shall pursue the objectives of sustainable development in its social, economic and environmental dimensions, taking into account the solidarity between the generations.”

• Czech Republic: 

Article 7: “”The State shall ensure the protection of the environment and the natural resources of the country, including sustainable use, in the interest of the present and future generations.”

Article 35: “”Everyone has the right to a favorable environment and the duty to protect and improve it.”

• Estonia:

Preamble: “…which shall guarantee the preservation of the Estonian nation, language and culture through the ages…”

• France:

Charter for the Environment of 2004, integrated into the Constitution:

Article 4: “Each person must contribute to the repair of damage he or she causes to the environment, under the conditions defined by law.”

Article 5: “When the occurrence of damage, although uncertain in the current state of scientific knowledge, could seriously and irreversibly affect the environment, public authorities shall, by application of the precautionary principle and within their areas of responsibility, ensure the implementation of risk assessment procedures and the adoption of provisional and proportionate measures to prevent the occurrence of damage.”

• Germany:

Article 20a: “The state shall protect the natural foundations of life and animals by legislation and, in accordance with law and justice, by executive and judicial action, all within the framework of the constitutional order, and shall endeavor to act responsibly toward future generations.”

• Greece:

Article 24: “The protection of the natural and cultural environment constitutes a duty of the State and the right of everyone. The State is bound to adopt special preventive or repressive measures for the preservation thereof. Matters pertaining to the protection of forests and forest expenses in general shall be regulated by law. Alteration of the use of state forests and state forest expanses is prohibited, except where agricultural use or other uses imposed for the public interest prevail for the benefit of the national economy.”

• Hungary:

Article P: “Natural resources, in particular arable land, forests and the reserves of water, biodiversity – in particular native plant and animal species – and cultural assets shall form part of the nation’s common heritage; the State and every person shall be obliged to protect, sustain and preserve them for future generations.”

• Italy:

Article 9: “The Republic promotes the development of culture and scientific and technical research. It safeguards the natural landscape and the historical and artistic heritage of the Nation.”

• Latvia:

Article 115: “The State shall protect the right of everyone to live in a benevolent environment by providing information about environmental conditions and by promoting the preservation and improvement of the environment.”

• Lithuania:

Article 53: “The State and each individual must protect the environment from harmful influences.”

• Luxembourg:

Article 11bis: “The State guarantees the protection of the human and cultural environment, and works for the establishment of a durable equilibrium between the conservation of nature, in particular its capacity for renewal, and the satisfaction of the needs of present and future generations.”

• Malta: 

Article 9: “The State shall protect the environment for the benefit of present and future generations.” 

• Poland:

Article 74: “Public authorities shall pursue policies ensuring the ecological security of current and future generations.”

• Portugal:

Article 66: “Everyone has the right to a healthy and ecologically balanced human living environment and the duty to defend it. In order to ensure this right, it is incumbent upon the State, through appropriate bodies and with the involvement and participation of citizens: a) To prevent and control pollution and its effects and the harmful forms of erosion; b) To organise land-use planning with a view to a correct location of activities, a balanced social and economic development and the enhancement of the landscape; c) To create and develop natural and recreational reserves and parks and classify and protect landscapes and sites, so as to guarantee the conservation of nature and the preservation of cultural assets of historical or artistic interest; d) To promote the rational use of natural resources, safeguarding their capacity for renewal and ecological stability.”

• Slovakia:

Article 44: “Everyone shall have the right to a favorable environment. Everyone shall be obliged to protect and enhance the environment and the cultural heritage. No one shall imperil or damage the environment, natural resources, and cultural heritage beyond the extent established by law.”

• Sweden:

Instrument of Government, Chapter 1, Article 2: “The public institutions shall promote sustainable development leading to a good environment for present and future generations.”