World Future Council

24/08/2026

The Call for Nominations for the World Future Policy Award 2027 is now open!

This year's Award focuses on Education for Sustainable Development in Cities and will recognise outstanding city-level and local policies that use learning and education to help build sustainable, inclusive and resilient urban societies.

We are particularly interested in policies that:

📚 create inclusive lifelong and intergenerational learning opportunities
🏙️ support greener and more sustainable cities
💻 advance digital inclusion
🗳strengthen civic participation, including participatory budgeting
🌿 reflect diverse perspectives, including those of Indigenous and local communities
💡 can be adapted or replicated in other contexts

The nomination deadline is 31 October 2026.

The Award is organised by the World Future Council in collaboration with the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

👉 Learn more and submit your nomination:
https://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/education-for-sustainable-development-in-cities/

07/08/2026

🎖️ Milestones in South-East Asia and the South Pacific for the CTBT and Nuclear-Weapon-Free zones 

The World Future Council welcomes two milestones on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament reached recently in South-East Asia and the South Pacific with the accession of Timor Leste to the South-East-Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone Treaty on October 25, 2025, and the accession of Tonga to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) on July 7, 2026.

‘The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the establishment of Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones (NWFZs) are concrete building blocks to achieve the peace and security of a nuclear-weapon-free world - a vision that was affirmed as a universal obligation by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1996’, said alyn ware, World Future Council (WFC) and Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament.

On July 7, Tonga also ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition on Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which is gathering momentum in SE Asia and the South Pacific. 8 of the 11 ASEAN countries and 9 of the 12 South Pacific Countries have ratified. 

Anda Filip, Secretary-General Inter-Parliamentary Union and Member, WFC stated “I warmly congratulate the Kingdom of Tonga for joining the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, both approved by its Parliament. At a time of growing global tensions, Tonga’s leadership reaffirms the importance of multilateralism and international law in building a safer world.”

These developments universalizes the CTBT and the Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones (NWFZs) in South-East-Asia and the South Pacific, i.e. all 11 ASEAN states and all 12 independent South Pacific countries are now parties to the CTBT and either the South Pacific NWFZ or the South-East Asia NWFZ. This is one indication of the leadership of SE Asia and the South Pacific in nuclear disarmament. 

‘Universalizing respect and adherence to these solemn promises made today could lead to future generations considering us as good ancestors and reflects well on the courageous efforts taken by our members, now, and in our past’, added, Neshan Gunasekera, CEO, World Future Council.

30/04/2026

A quiet energy revolution is already underway, and policymakers can’t afford to ignore it.

In , consumers are rapidly reshaping the power sector from the ground up. In just four years, nearly 46 GW of solar panels have been imported with much of it unregistered and invisible to official planning.

As grid demand declines and legacy contracts strain the system, one thing is clear: The era of captive electricity consumers is ending.

What does this mean for policy, markets, and the future of energy systems across the Global South?

A new report from our Energy and Just Development Team, through the Global Renewables Congress project, “The Policy Implications of a People-Driven, Bottom-Up Energy Revolution – the case of Pakistan and implications for policymaking in the Global South,” by Dr. David Jacobs, breaks it down from tariff design to prosumer policy and grid finance.

At the same time, stands at a different, but equally pivotal moment.

With 86% electricity access, strong renewable energy targets, and vast untapped solar, wind, and hydro potential, the country is well positioned for a sustainable transition. But turning ambition into action requires the right policy choices.

The latest Ghana report, informed by dialogues at the Africa Climate Summit, IRENA’s Legislators’ Assembly, and our Climate Resilience Dialogue, outlines some practical steps to get there.

Two countries.

Two distinct energy transitions.

One urgent take away: The future of energy is decentralised, dynamic, and already here.

📥 Explore and download the full reports:

• Pakistan report: https://renewablescongress.org/re-pakistan/

• Ghana report: https://renewablescongress.org/re-ghana/

Inter-Parliamentary Union Parliament of Ghana Climate Action Network-International International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Ministry of Energy Hajia Ramana Shareef

22/04/2026

🌍 Happy Earth Day 2026! 🌍

On this Earth Day 2026, the World Future Council joins millions globally to embrace this year’s theme: "Our Power, Our Planet." ✊✨

For us, Earth Day isn't just a celebration, it’s a call to uphold our duties to Earth Trusteeship. As peoples, we are called upon to act as guardians of our planet, holding its resources in trust for generations yet to come.

This reminds us that keeping the environment and earth’s ecosystems healthy and thriving is not something we can take for granted. This requires a collective effort, recognizing the values of communities living in the front lines, and their role in protecting our shared home.

For years, the World Future Council’s work has been guided by the principle of Earth Trusteeship. This commitment is critical to all our efforts at weaving global importance: including on Renewable Energy (RE), Agroecology and moving toward living in harmony with nature.

A Just Energy Transition
In our latest work through the Global Renewables Congress project with partners like IRENA, we’re proving that Renewable Energy is a critical element for social equity and environmental justice. It’s about more than just furthering technology; it’s about decentralizing power and empowering people to have access to clean, affordable and resilient energy sources.

In Ghana: We’re working to identify implementation barriers and support local RE industries to build a climate-resilient and renewables-based economy.

In Pakistan: We’re championing decentralized solar solutions that restore livelihoods and build energy independence.

🌱 Agroecology & Resilience
True trusteeship means healing our soil. Our efforts in Agroecology are scaling policies that move us away from chemicals and toward regenerative systems. By protecting seed sovereignty and soil health, we’re securing the future of food.

Our Himalayan Agroecology Initiative is helping scale policies that preserve seed sovereignty, and build community resilience.

And our World Future Policy Awards 2025 - Living in Harmony with Nature and Future Generations 2025 celebrates laws and policies that don’t just fight biodiversity loss - they help regenerate ecosystems and strengthen the recognition of Nature’s intrinsic value.

Today, we remind ourselves: The power to protect our planet lies in our hands. When we act as trustees, we choose a future that is just, sustainable, and peaceful.

Read more about our recent efforts in our latest newsletter: https://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/newsletter-02-2026/

19/04/2026

A historic moment in Istanbul. Our World Future Councillor Anda Filip has been elected the 9th Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, becoming the first woman to lead the global organisation of national parliaments. 🌍✨

This recognition honours the continuing leadership Anda provides to the IPU, to broader multilateralism through parliamentary democracy, and to our own work as a much-respected, long-serving member of our Council.

Attending the 152nd IPU Assembly as a Permanent Observer, the World Future Council witnessed this milestone first-hand - announced by Dr Tulia Ackson, President of the IPU, alongside outgoing Secretary General Martin Chungong - and underscored by the Assembly’s guiding theme: “Nurturing hope, securing peace and ensuring justice for future generations.”

Anda’s dedication to safeguarding the rights of future generations certainly nurtures hope that the World Future Council’s mission - to support decision-makers in embedding future-just governance solutions - will continue to gather significant support and traction in the coming years.

With more than two decades of service to the IPU, a distinguished diplomatic career, and a defining role in building the parliamentary dimension of the United Nations, Anda brings exactly the purposeful, dedicated, and gracious leadership the world’s parliaments need right now.

Congratulations, Anda, from all of us at the World Future Council. Here’s to a bright future at the IPU!
parliament_official

01/04/2026

Together we will accelerate the green energy transition in Ghana.

01/04/2026

What’s stopping Ghana from moving faster on renewable energy?

That was the big question at the Ghana Climate Resilience Dialogue held at the Parliament of Ghana the beginning of March 2026.

Ghana already has strong policies and achievable ambitions, but progress is slower than expected. Right now, renewable energy makes up about 5% of the energy mix, with a target of 10% by 2030.
So what’s the hold up?

💡 Financing is still difficult to access
⚡ The system for approving projects is slow
🔌 The electricity grid needs upgrading
🏭 Local renewable businesses need more support

The good news? Solutions are clear.

This dialogue session, organised by the Global Renewables Congress, a project of the World Future Council, brought together leaders to focus on practical steps to move forward.

Because renewable energy is not just about the environment: It’s about jobs, economic growth, and a better future for everyone.

Now it’s time to turn plans into action.

14/01/2026

🌱 Frauen prägen den Wandel in der Landwirtschaft
2026 ist das UN-Jahr der Frauen in der Landwirtschaft und das aus gutem Grund. Weltweit tragen Frauen einen Großteil der landwirtschaftlichen Arbeit, sichern Ernährung und Biodiversität und treiben den Wandel zu nachhaltigen Ernährungssystemen voran. Gleichzeitig bleiben ihre Leistungen oft unsichtbar und sind von struktureller Benachteiligung geprägt.

🌾 Agrarökologie setzt genau hier an. Sie verbindet ökologische Praxis mit sozialer Gerechtigkeit und stärkt Frauen und FLINTA* als zentrale Akteurinnen des Wandels.

Wir freuen uns, das zivilgesellschaftliche Positionspapier zu Agrarökologie mitzuzeichnen, das auf der Podiumsdiskussion „Unsere Grüne Woche: Landwirtschaft und Ernährung mit Zukunft – Frauen prägen den Wandel“ vorgestellt wird. Die Diskussion knüpft auch an unsere Arbeit im Rahmen der Himalayan Agroecology Initiative (HAI) an, in der Frauen eine Schlüsselrolle in bäuerlichen Strukturen, Beratung und politischer Gestaltung einnehmen.

👉 Jetzt anmelden und mitdiskutieren:
https://calendar.boell.de/de/event/unsere-gruene-woche-landwirtschaft-und-ernaehrung-mit-zukunft-frauen-praegen-den-wandel

Die Vereinten Nationen haben 2026 zum Jahr der Frauen in der Landwirtschaft erklärt. In vielen Regionen tragen Frauen einen Großteil der landwirtschaftlichen Arbeit und setzen sich zugleich für eine nachhaltige und zukunftsorientierte Bewirtschaftung ein. Dennoch bleibt ihr Engagement häufig unsichtbar. Ungleichheit und Diskriminierung prägen ihren Alltag. Sie haben keinen oder ungleichen Zugang zu Land, eingeschränkte, Möglichkeiten der Finanzierung, erleben häusliche und sexualisierte Gewalt im Arbeitskontext, gesundheitliche Belastung durch den Einsatz von Pestiziden.
Agrarökologie als Bewegung kann diese Herausforderungen bewältigen. Sie nimmt auch Machtverhältnisse in innerhalb der Lebensmittelproduktion in den Blickt und stärkt gezielt FLINTA*.
Gemeinsam mit bäuerlichen Vertreterinnen aus Deutschland, Mexiko und dem Senegal sprechen wir über die Rolle von Frauen, ihre Herausforderungen und Erwartungen an die Politik. Kommt am 14. Januar 2026 in die Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung. Oder schaltet euch per Livestream dazu. Den Link zur Anmeldung findet ihr in der Story oder unserer Bio.

05/01/2026

🚀 A major milestone for agroecology in Nepal 🌍

On 29 December 2025, the National Agroecology Roadmap of Nepal was formally handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) in the presence of Hon. Minister Dr. Madan Prasad Pariyar and MoALD Secretary Dr. Rajendra Prasad Mishra.

The roadmap is the result of an inclusive, multi-stakeholder process engaging farmers’ organizations, researchers, civil society, and government actors. Developed under the Himalayan Agroecology Initiative, the process was supported by the World Future Council, IFOAM - Organics International, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with LI-BIRDko Chautari (ली-बर्डको चौतारी) serving as Secretariat and strategic support from DCA and WHH.

At the handover ceremony, the Minister highlighted the roadmap as a highly important policy document for Nepal’s agroecological transition, noting its potential to support youth, local entrepreneurship, and agricultural development. The Ministry has formally received the document and committed to further review and consultations toward implementation.

With the vision “Agroecology for an Equitable, Resilient, and Sustainable Food System,” the roadmap positions agroecology as a long-term, science-based pathway aligned with Nepal’s social, ecological, and economic realities. 🌿

This milestone demonstrates what becomes possible when public institutions, farmers, and civil society work together toward shared long-term goals. We look forward to accompanying the next phase of dialogue, validation, and implementation. 🤝🌾


Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) Tarayana Foundation United Nations Development Programme - UNDP
IFAD ASIA CGIAR Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT

23/12/2025