Upcoming conference: Getting our institutions to take a long-term perspective

Antony Mason looks forward to a conference at the prestigious Oxford Martin School which will explore ways to make our institutions take the long view, in the interests of future generationsSheldonian Theatre. Oxford, England

One year after the release of the Oxford Martin Commission for Future Generations’ Report “Now for the Long Term“, the Oxford Martin School Programme on Human Rights for Future Generations is hosting another important conference to answer such key questions as:

  • Why is intergenerational equity not better reflected in our policies?
  • Why are calls on policymakers to extend their concern beyond short-term election cycles so ineffective?

Or, as the title of the conference puts it:

  • How can institutional mechanisms safeguard for tomorrow, today?

The conference will address these questions and examine options for better embedding a long-term perspective in our institutions.

Free and open to all

Yes, indeed – the conference is free and open to all. So, if you are in the Oxford area next Tuesday, 21 October, you should definitely consider coming along. Here are the details:

  • Date: Tuesday 21 October 2014, 2pm–6pm
  • Location: Oxford Martin School, 34 Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3BD (near the Sheldonian Theatre (pictured))

Although free, you need a ticket, available through the Eventbrite website, which you can access here.

Two sessions

 The afternoon will be divided into two sessions.

As the dedicated website puts it: “[The] two sessions will evaluate innovative mechanisms and tools for re-orienting our practices towards the future. The effectiveness and legitimacy of various measures such as ombudspersons for future generations or improved reporting methods will be assessed by leading practitioners and theorists.”

Speakers

Professor Ian Goldin, Director, Oxford Martin School
Peter Davies, Wales’ Commissioner For Sustainable Future
Oras Tynkkynen, Vice-Chair, Finnish Committee for the Future
Catherine Pearce, Director Future Justice, World Future Council
Simon Caney, Oxford Martin Programme on Human Rights for Future Generations, University of Oxford
Juliana Bidadanure, Political and Social Sciences Department, European University Institute, Florence
Jörg Tremmel, Institute for Political Science, University of Tübingen
Peter Lawrence, Faculty of Law, University of Tasmania