Description
In the context of the 2026 Senedd elections, this paper argues that Welsh sustainability politics are shaped by a deeply affective and hopeful vision of the future. Central to this analysis is the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act (2015), widely regarded as a “hope-bearing” piece of legislation (Stokes and Smith, 2024). By promoting a vision of a green, sustainable and emotionally resonant Welsh society, the “Future Generations rhetoric” tries to bring Welsh people together, inciting pride for the nation while fostering the hope of a better future. Drawing on publicly available materials and ongoing ethnographic fieldwork within the Office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, this paper explores how this affective discourse contributes to the construction of a distinct Welsh identity. By remaining intrinsically linked to national identity, the transformative potential of the Act remains constrained by what is deemed ‘politically viable’ within the current Welsh political system. While its affective infrastructure can inspire environmental action, it can also easily be co-opted, and risks obscuring the structural causes of the climate crisis. Ultimately, the paper contributes to broader debates on the affective nature of nationalism and national identity, calling for existing literature on green nationalism to start paying attention to affect and emotions.
