A year after the publication of Now for the Long Term, the report of the Oxford Martin Commission for Future Generations, the Oxford Martin Programme on Human Rights for Future Generations convened a half-day conference on 21 October examining options for more effectively embedding a long-term perspective in political institutions.
Chaired by Dr Dominic Roser and Dr Jaakko Kuosmanen, the event opened with a keynote address by Professor Ian Goldin, Director of the Oxford Martin School and Vice-Chair of the Oxford Martin Commission. Reflecting on the progress made during the past year, Professor Goldin highlighted four recommendations that are initially being taken forward by Commissioners, the Oxford School and external partners; recommendations for ‘creative coalitions’ on climate change and chronic diseases, as well as recommendations for an NGO committed to raising international statistical standards and an index assessing countries’ commitment to the long term.
Professor Simon Caney - Co-Director of the Oxford Martin Programme on Human Rights for Future Generations - led the first panel, which focused on theoretical approaches to long-term thinking. He was joined on this panel by Juliana Bidadanure (Political and Social Sciences Department, European University Institute, Florence), Professor Jörg Tremmel (Assistant Professor, Institute for Political Science, University of Tübingen) and Dr Peter Lawrence (Faculty of Law, University of Tasmania). The second panel discussion focused on practical approaches to long-term thinking, and featured insights from Peter Davies (Wales’ Commissioner for Sustainable Futures), Oras Tynkkynen (Vice-Chair, Finnish Committee for the Future) and Catherine Pearce (Director Future Justice, World Future Council).
Now for the Long Term, the report of the Oxford Martin Commission, was launched in October 2013 and has since been accessed online over one million times and discussed at events in five continents.
The conference is now available to watch online in two parts, 'Theoretical approaches to long-term thinking' and 'Practical approaches to long-term thinking' .