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A former independent commissioner has defended her role in the decision to cancel the M4 relief road, emphasizing the importance of environmental concerns over economic gains. Sophie Howe, who was the world’s first future generations commissioner, made these remarks during a BBC podcast. The cancelled 14-mile motorway project in Newport was initially proposed to ease traffic and stimulate the local economy, but Howe stressed that protecting the environment should take precedence, famously stating, “there are no jobs on a dead planet.”
Howe explained that her tenure, from 2016 to 2023, involved scrutinizing numerous infrastructure projects, including the M4 relief road and a third Menai crossing, to ensure they aligned with sustainable development and wellbeing criteria. Despite the Welsh government having spent £114 million on planning the M4 project, an inquiry found that the economic benefits outweighed environmental damage, a conclusion that Howe contested. In her role, she was tasked with ensuring that public policies considered long-term impacts, including those affecting future generations, but she did not hold veto power over such decisions.
The former commissioner acknowledged that her stance was unpopular among drivers frustrated by traffic congestion on the existing M4 route. However, she questioned how expanding the motorway could be compatible with the Welsh government’s wellbeing goals, particularly the aim for a low-carbon, prosperous society. Addressing the economic argument, Howe acknowledged its validity but insisted that environmental sustainability must not be sacrificed for short-term economic gains: “In the long term, there are no jobs on a dead planet.” She also highlighted the social equity aspect, noting that a significant portion of low-income families in the region do not own cars, raising questions about who would truly benefit from such costly infrastructure investments.
Following the cancellation of the relief road in 2019 by Wales’s Labour government under then-first minister Mark Drakeford, funds earmarked for the motorway have been redirected to other transport initiatives like the South Wales Metro. The Welsh government conducted a comprehensive review of road-building projects, resulting in the scrapping of most major schemes in 2023, including the third Menai crossing and a proposed road in Flintshire. Only smaller-scale projects have proceeded, with emphasis placed on reducing carbon emissions and encouraging sustainable transport alternatives. Although some road projects have seen renewed consideration under the current government, Howe’s legacy has contributed to broader international attention on ensuring governments take account of future generations, spurring similar initiatives around the world
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