In recent years, the world has experienced significant disruptions—the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Israel and Hamas conflict, extreme climate disasters, the surging cost of living, and global supply chain interruptions.

Metaverses may: leave people less connected to the real-world systems that support them; offer efficiencies for complex systems; have pros and cons for human health and the environment; and create challenges for current tax regimes, content moderation strategies, policing, and rights frameworks.

Sophie Howe, the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, shares the progress and challenges in implementing Wales' Well-being of Future Generations Act, and the growing momentum for protecting the interests of future generations in national and global decision making.