Radical - Rights for the Unborn: How Should We Protect Future Generations? (Sophie Howe)
Download Rights for the Unborn: How Should We Protect Future Generations? (Sophie Howe)
Politicians are always making decisions that impact future generations, but how often do they really consider whether they are making life better, or worse, for people who haven’t been born yet?
Rarely, thinks Sophie Howe, but she is part of a movement aiming to change that. She was the first future generations commissioner for Wales - at the time, the first role of its kind anywhere in the world - and her job was to make sure that decisions taken by the Welsh government would benefit its people in the long-term.
She tells Gabriel Gatehouse about some of the key things she made happen, and one big thing she stopped happening, as well as her current work to encourage other countries to appoint future generations commissioners. Also, she explains why she thinks it’s sometimes necessary to put the needs of the unborn over those of the living, at least in the short-term.
WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480
Email: radical@bbc.co.uk
Episodes of Radical are released every Thursday.
Series Producer: Simon Tulett
Producer: Bob Howard
Technical Producer: Dafydd Evans
Digital Producer: Daniel Raza
Senior News Editor: Sam Bonham
Published on Wednesday, 23rd September 2026.
Available Podcasts from Radical
We are not the BBC, we only list available podcasts. To find out more about the programme including episodes available on BBC iPlayer, go to the Radical webpage.