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British public opinion on the needs of “future generations”
This report gives summary findings of research carried out by Ipsos MORI in November 2011 on British public
opinion on the needs of future generations. The research was jointly commissioned by the Intergenerational
Foundation (http://www.if.org.uk) and the Foundation for Democracy and Sustainable Development
(http://www.fdsd.org). It was produced as a contribution to the work of the Alliance for Future Generations
(see http://bit.ly/uDvWXb). The Alliance is a group of more than forty organisations and individuals working
to bring long-termism and the needs of future generations into the heart of UK democracy and policy
processes, in order to safeguard the earth and secure intergenerational justice.
A total of 989 people over the age of 15 were interviewed face-to-face between November 1st and November
4th 2011. The results were weighted to reflect the wider British population. Charts showing summary data
are on page 2.
Findings
1. When prioritising future generations over different time-scales, almost two thirds believe the needs of
“all future generations” are more important than the needs of any particular generation such as their own
or their children’s.
When asked (in Q1) to select which generation’s needs should take priority in terms of sharing the Earth’s
resources, the majority of people (64%) chose that “all future generations” should take priority rather than
“my children’s generation” (13%), “my generation” (13%) or “my grandchildren’s generation” (7%).
2. A majority of people place the needs of future generations of all people living on Earth above future
generations of either their own family, or the people of their own country. Over a fifth of people place the
needs of future generations of all “plants and animals living on Earth" first.
When asked (in Q2) which future generations should take priority, nearly half (49%) of those interviewed
chose “all people living on Earth” and about a fifth (22%) chose “plant and animal species living on Earth”.
Only 13% prioritised “my family” and 12% prioritised “people in my country”.
3. More people choose “a healthy planet” as the most important legacy to hand on to future generations
than any one of five other options including “an unspoilt countryside”, “a thriving economy” and “safety
and security”.
When asked (in Q3) what is the most important thing to hand on to future generations, 46% chose “a
healthy planet”, 16% chose “the technology and skills to ensure mankind’s survival”, 16% chose “safety and
security”, 9% “a thriving economy”, 8% “thriving communities” and 4% chose “an unspoilt countryside”.
4. Two thirds of people believe the UK Government does not adequately consider future generations in
the decisions it makes today. Only 5% say the UK Government considers future generations too much.
When asked (in Q4) how well the UK Government considers future generations in its decisions, just over two
thirds (67%) selected either “too little” (38%) or “far too little” (28%), whereas just under a quarter (24%)
chose “the right amount”. Only 5% chose either “too much” or “far too much”.
Q1. Which one of the following generation’s needs, if any, should have priority when thinking about using
the Earth’s resources?
Q2. Which one of the following generation’s needs, if any, should have priority when you consider the
needs of each?
Q3. And which of the following, if any, do you think is most important to hand down to future
generations?
Q4. What best describes your opinion of how well the UK Government considers future generations in
decisions it makes today?
64%
13%
13%
7%
2%
0%
The needs of all future generations
The needs of my children's generation
The needs of my generation
The needs of my grandchildren's generation
Don't know
None of these
49%
22%
13%
12%
2%
0%
all people living on Earth
plants and animal species living on Earth
my family
people of my country
Don't know
None of these
46%
16%
16%
9%
8%
4%
2%
0%
A healthy planet
The technology and skills to ensure mankind's survival
Safety and security
A thriving economy
Thriving communities
An unspoilt countryside
Don't know
None of these
28%
38%
24%
3%
2%
67%
5%
4%
1%
It considers future generations far too little
It considers future generations too little
It considers future generations the right amount
It considers future generations too much
It considers future generations far too much
Too little (total)
Too much (total)
Don't know
None of these
Foundation for Democracy and Sustainable Development
http://www.fdsd.org
+44 (0) 20 7234 0975
Intergenerational Foundation
http://www.if.org.uk/
+44 (0) 7971 228 823
