We’re sustainability experts who help organisations create a fairer and more secure future. Since 2002 we’ve been part of Wales’ journey to end short-term thinking and become a leader in sustainable development.
From our beginnings as a membership network, our role has evolved. Having played a key part in developing the ground-breaking Well-being of Future Generations Act, our focus has shifted to enabling practical action towards realising the Well-being goals and the sustainable Development goals.
Today, we’re a non-profit enterprise and registered charity, providing advice, training and networking opportunities.
2002
The establishment of the organisation was led by Sue Essex AM, the then Minister for the Environment in the Welsh government.
The Sustainable Development Forum for Wales was registered in 2002 and established in 2003 to be an independent body working alongside government to advance sustainable development in Wales.
2012
Since 2012, Cynnal Cymru has been committed to the UN Global Compact corporate responsibility initiative and its principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.
2012
From 2012 we supported Welsh Government on a wide-range of initiatives; providing the secretariat for the Climate Change Commission Wales and managing the Sustainable Development Charter as well as supporting the former Sustainable Futures Commissioner, Peter Davies.
2014
For over two years we worked with the Welsh Government and the former Sustainable Futures Commissioner, Peter Davies, to deliver Wales’s biggest National Conversation on ‘The Wales We Want’.
The Conversation was launched in February 2014 with the support of award-winning Welsh actor and UNICEF supporter Michael Sheen.
2014
In 2014, we became a registered charity: promoting sustainable development for the benefit of the public.
We are the first charity in Wales to have this as our primary aim.
2015
‘The Wales We Want’ Conversation featured the voices of 6474 individuals and helped to shape and inform the ground-breaking, Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act – the first law of its kind in the world.
A new chapter
In 2016, following the formation of the new Office of the of the Commissioner for Future Generations, our contract with Welsh Government ended.
Determined to build on the existing knowledge, skills and experience; we took the first steps towards establishing the organisation you see today.
This included introducing a four-day working week.
2016
In 2016 we became the official accreditation body for the real Living Wage in Wales and an accredited Living Wage employer.
2017
In 2017 we began our partnership with The Carbon Literacy Project and delivered our first accredited Carbon Literacy course in person.
2018
In November we launched the Sustainable Academy Awards with RenewableUK Cymru. Bringing together the best of the Sustain Wales Awards and the Wales Green Energy Awards.
We also became part of WCVA’s group structure with the ambition to bring together complimentary skills to strengthen and enable new project partnerships.
2020
Recognised as the first Carbon Literacy Training Organisation (CLTO) in Wales.
Delivered our first accredited online Carbon Literacy course.
2021
Piloted and launched Nabod Natur – Nature Wise, our new eco-literacy training.
Launched our new online training platform.
Our website moved to a UK based server, using green energy / compensation for its services.
2021
We piloted and launched our new eco-literacy training Nabod Natur – Nature Wise.
With the support of Welsh Government, we launched the Living Wage for Wales website and gathered stories from about the positive impact of the real Living Wage on organisations and workers.
2022
Moved our office to Sbarc | Spark – a new co-working space (BREEAM standard and Living Wage Building) and in so doing became a remote organisation with no capital assets apart from laptops.
2025
In November 2026, we’re celebrated an important milestone during the fifth annual global Carbon Literacy Action Day, as we reached 2002 Carbon Literacy learners who have successfully completed our training.
The headline result of this is an *estimated average carbon reduction of 3.6 tonnes of CO2 per learner and £1,000 of cost savings per year.
