Intergenerational Fairness Day is an annual moment of reflection and action dedicated to the question of how political decisions today shape the life chances of younger and future generations. Observed each year on 16 November, the day brings together civil society organisations, researchers, policymakers, and citizens to assess whether long-term responsibility is being meaningfully integrated into public decision-making.
The initiative was launched in early 2023 by the Foundation for the Rights of Future Generations (FRFG) and an international network of non-partisan organisations working to protect the interests of younger and future generations.
Initially conceived as a step toward establishing an official United Nations day, Intergenerational Fairness Day responded to a clear gap in the global calendar: while the UN recognises numerous international days dedicated to human rights, children, women, water, and climate, there was no dedicated moment focused explicitly on fairness between generations.
Since its first observance in 2023, Intergenerational Fairness Day has evolved in response to political developments at the European and international level. In particular, the creation of the European Commission’s Citizens’ Panel on Intergenerational Fairness and the preparation of the EU’s first Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness have given the day a new, concrete political anchor. On 16 November 2025, Intergenerational Fairness Day coincided with the moment when 150 randomly selected EU citizens handed over their final recommendations on intergenerational fairness directly to the European Commissioner responsible for the new strategy. This convergence marked a shift: from awareness alone toward democratic practice, accountability, and institutional follow-up.
Today, Intergenerational Fairness Day serves as a recurring point of orientation, and a moment to take stock of how commitments to future generations are being translated into policy, governance structures, and democratic processes, particularly within the European Union. It provides space not only to highlight long-term risks such as climate change, biodiversity loss, public debt, demographic change, technological disruption, and social inequality, but also to reflect on the institutional tools needed to address them fairly across generations.
Each year on 16 November, organisations and partners from Europe and beyond engage in discussions, publications, events, and public communication to strengthen long-term thinking and intergenerational responsibility in politics. Intergenerational Fairness Day thus continues to grow as a living initiative — one that connects citizens and institutions, present concerns and future consequences, and short-term decisions with long-term obligations.
Background
Accelerating global warming, escalating (nuclear) arms races, the loss of biodiversity, unaligned artificial intelligence, and human-made pandemics are just some of the new risks experienced by today's youth and future generations. These risks are still neglected by governments globally.Â
Within existing public policy, rapidly growing national debts, the cost-of-living crisis, high housing costs, and eroding pensions are some of the policy areas where young people are losing out.
In a nutshell, in too many areas of life, society is acting at the expense of young people and future generations. A joint and intensive effort to secure the existence of humanity beyond the next decades is required.
The organisers argue that many of these problems are not just national, but global. While the specific context may differ from country to country, the general trend is that governments worldwide focus on solving short-term problems with little regard to long-term sustainability, whether it be the use of natural resources, government spending or investment in the futures of younger and unborn generations.
Intergenerational Fairness Day wants to encourage people to think about this essential topic and to draw attention to its importance. Government decision-makers must be reminded of their responsibility towards future generations and work together to create a future that is fair and sustainable for all generations.
All the IFD links you need
Countdown to the 4th Intergenerational Fairness Day!
The 4th Intergenerational Fairness Day on 16 November 2026 will continue the conversation on fairness between present and future generations – building on growing efforts to anchor intergenerational fairness in European policymaking.
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The IFD Timeline
16.11.20253rd Intergenerational Fairness Day
In 2025, Intergenerational Fairness Day coincided with the final session of the European Commission’s Citizens’ Panel on Intergenerational Fairness, during which 150 randomly selected citizens from all 27 EU Member States formally presented 24 policy recommendations to the European Commissioner responsible for Intergenerational Fairness. These recommendations were developed over a three-month deliberative process and are intended to inform the European Union’s first Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness, expected to be published in 2026.27.11.2024Appointment of the EU Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Sport and Culture
On 27 November, following a debate with President von der Leyen, the European Parliament approved the new College of Commissioners as a whole, including the first-ever EU Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness.16.11.20242nd Intergenerational Fairness Day
16 November 2024 saw the second celebration of the Intergenerational Fairness Day. For the second time we raised awareness through the world wide blog week hosted by the Intergenerational Foundation with a summary of domestic intergenerational fairness wins and losses in 2024 throughout the network.22.-23.09.2024UN Summit of the Future
The first UN Summit of the Future will take place on 22 and 23 September 2024. The summit is a high-level event where leaders from around the world come together to forge a new international consensus for a better future. On the one hand, the summit aims to accelerate efforts to meet our existing international commitments, such as the Sustainable Development Goals. On the other hand, it is about taking concrete steps to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities.16.11.20231st Intergenerational Fairness Day
The IFD Network celebrates the first Intergenerational Fairness Day with various activities and projects. The first episode of the Intergenerational Fairness Day Podcast is published, the collaborative blog week is uploaded, a social media campaign is in full force and many national initiatives are underway.05.01.2023First Meeting of the new IFD Network
The FRFG reaches out to various organisations with the idea of creating an International Day of Action for Intergenerational Fairness. The objective is to raise awareness for future generations and create an official UN holiday.
It's the first Intergenerational Fairness Day!
16 November 2023
We are excited to announce that today is the first worldwide Intergenerational Fairness Day and exciting things are coming your way! Go to your favourite podcasting platform and listen to the first episode of the Intergenerational Fairness Day Podcast – Introducing Intergenerational Fairness: A Global Movement. As well as the podcast, the organisations have also collaborated on a worldwide blog week, which the Intergenerational Foundation has coordinated and will host in the week following 16 November on their website. There are around 15 articles to look out for, which will be shared over the course of the week, including an article by the FRFG, on the topic of intergenerational fairness.
