Sophie Howe is Wales' first Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, appointed in early 2016. The Commissioner's role is to be the guardian of future generations. This means helping public bodies and those who make policy in Wales to think about the long-term impact their decisions have. The Well-being of Future Generations Act requires public bodies in Wales to think about the long-term impact of their decisions, to work better with people, communities and each other, and to prevent persistent problems such as poverty, health inequalities and climate change. The general duties of the Commissioner : “Promote the sustainable development principle, in particular to act as a guardian of the ability of future generations to meet their needs and encourage public bodies to take greater account of the long-term impact of the things they do.” “Monitor and assess the extent to which well-being objectives set by public bodies are being met.”