Respect and Care for the Community of Life
Ecological Integrity
Social and Economic Justice
Democracy, Nonviolence, and Peace
This tool is for anyone asking themselves:
What can I do with the
Earth Charter ?
This is not the only answer,
but it will help guide you to your answer.
Produced by the International Secretariat,
with the extraordinary help of our network
May 2003
Earth Charter International Secretariat – PO Box 319-6100 – San José – Costa Rica
Phone: + 506 205 1600
Fax: + 506 249 3500
[email protected]
www.earthcharter.org
We would appreciate any
feedback and suggestions
on how you use this
tool or improve it.
What can I do with the Earth Charter?
The Road Map
To implement the Earth Charter, you can go through these 3 questions:
What is the vision of
the Earth Charter?
What can I do in my everyday
life with the Earth Charter?
How can I help the Earth
Charter Initiative?
1
2
3
More Information:
Follow the links through the document
or see the Appendix on:

Specific groups and individuals
implementing the Earth Charter:
Educators
• The Earth Charter Text and its structure
• General information on the Earth Charter Initiative
(Origin, History, Structural Information)
Local Communities
• Examples of Earth Charter workshops
Youth
• Tips to launch a project
Businesses
If you’re using the electronic version, you can click on the icons below to:
Go to our Web Site
Write us an e-mail
Go back to the road map
Click on the numbers or the specific groups
and individuals to reach that theme.
“There are enormous thought
provoking words in this
document and what we
should do is instead of just
reading through, reflect on
what those words mean so that
we can be moved to action".
Prof.Wangari Maathai, Kenya
1 What is the vision of the Earth Charter?
What is the Earth Charter ?
The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental ethical principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful
global society. It seeks to inspire in all peoples a new sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility
for the well-being of the human family and the larger living world. The Earth Charter is a product of a decade long,
worldwide, cross-cultural conversation about common goals and shared values.
Through its preamble, 16 principles and 61 supporting principles divided in 4 parts, and conclusion,
the whole text of the Earth Charter is understood as a path to peace.
(More about the Earth Charter’s Origin and Structure in the Appendix)
Earth Charter and UN,
Maurice Strong – May 98:
“Let me be very clear, this is a
People's Earth Charter. It
will have its power, it will have
its influence because it comes
from people. (…)
That is even more important
than putting it on the UN
Agenda. (…)
It will become a symbol
of the aspirations and the
commitments of people
everywhere.”
Their Vision of the Earth Charter
• Mikhail Gorbachev, President of Green Cross International, Co-Chair, Earth Charter Commission
"In its essence the Earth Charter shifts the focus to people on the Earth, their responsibilities, their morals and
spirituality, their way of consumption. To save humankind and all future generations, we must save the Earth. By
saving the Earth, humankind saves himself; it is that easy to understand!
• Mirian Vilela, Executive Director of the Earth Charter International Secretariat
“The Earth Charter Initiative is like the two sides of a coin, one is the theory and philosophy that gives the direction
of where to go, and the other side is the practice. The Earth Charter calls for action with an integrated vision and
can be used as an effective instrument for change.”
• One of our National Representative when consulted about the Earth Charter
“The interconnectedness of every aspect of the Charter is critical.”
If you want to know more, see:
• www.earthcharter.org/aboutus : Presentations, Press Kit, Background Information, Frequently Asked Question, …
• www.earthcharter.org/resources : Publications, Case Studies, Related Websites, Interviews, …
“Never doubt that a
small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change
the world; indeed, it’s the only
thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead
Dr Charlie Clements,
Nobel Price for the
Land Mine Ban
Treaty
After too many chirurgical
interventions on civilians due
to Land Mines, Dr Clements
decided with friends and
contacts to fight for “our
whole life, we thought”, Land
Mines use and production.
About 5 years later, the
Treaty was signed and simple
citizens received a Nobel
Price for Peace, “none of us
being president of any state”.
2 What can I do in my everyday life with the Earth Charter?
Implement the Earth Charter values in your everyday life
A logical process is to reflect upon the principles and vision of the Earth Charter,
What is the meaning of it and how that relates to your decisions in your everyday life or in your organization.
It should be a constant exercise of action – reflection – action, with a gradual understanding
and raising awareness of the notions of interdependence and responsibility.
Nice, but how?
The roots of the answer are included in the Earth Charter:
• Preamble – The Challenges : “We must realize that when basic needs have been met, human development is
primarily about being more, not having more.”
• The Way Forward: “(Adopt and Promote those values) requires a change of mind and heart. It requires a new
sense of global interdependence and universal responsibility. We must imaginatively develop and apply the
vision of a sustainable way of life locally, nationally, regionally, and globally.(…) different cultures will find
their own distinctive ways to realize the vision.”
“Explore ways this vision can help re-shape your value system,
ways to be more consistent between what you believe is good and your own lifestyle.”
Bring it
home
… if you think it’s not possible: Read the story of Charlie Clements on this page.
… if you need more knowledge on the subject: See the links next page to UNESCO’s and YouthXchange Projects
… if you need some practical steps to help you starting or to “not reinvent the wheel”: See next page
2 What can I do in my everyday life with the Earth Charter?
The Earth Charter, a guideline to “action oriented” ideas
So many ideas and ways to act. One way to organize these examples and initiatives is to use the Earth Charter (!),
sorting out the ideas with the 4 main parts of the Charter, indicating the principles they relate to:
Respect and Care for the Community of Life
• Learn from elder’s wisdom and kid’s creativity, respect the nature around you and become aware of its diversity.
• Make sure your organization promote a good participatory process.
(principles 1a, 3, and 4b)
Ecological Integrity
• “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle”: have your car checked, bike or use public transportation, use renewable energy in
your home and office, watch your paper consumption, …
• Watch the origin of the products you buy: avoid primary forest wood, where and how has your food been grown.
• Think about quality of life versus quantity of belongings: buy something if you need it. (principles 5, 7b, 7f, 8b)
Social and Economic Justice
• Give some of your resources, time, money or knowledge, to underprivileged people or countries.
• Again watch the origin of the product you buy: does the company and country of origin respect human rights and
progressive labour standards? (inquire about it)
(Principles 9b,c, 10a,c)
Democracy, Non-violence, and Peace
• Be informed about your community or country reality and reflect on the relation between that and the Earth Charter.
• Promote multi-cultural and inter-generation exchanges in your life, within your group and in its activities.
• Join a local association in your field of interest.
(Principles 13a, 13b, 16a)
UNESCO uses the
Earth Charter in
“Teaching and
Learning for a
Sustainable Future” (TLSF
- module Understanding
Sustainable Development):
TLSF is a great link to
learn more on the
challenges ahead.
It helps students better
understand the world in
which they live, addressing
the complexity and
interconnectedness of
problems such as poverty,
wasteful consumption,
environmental degradation,
population, health, conflict
and human rights that
threaten our future.
www.unesco.org/education/tlsf
Bring it
home
www.youthxchange.net a great link for youth (and others)
Internalise the vision !
UNEP and UNESCO interviewed 10 000 youth to explain how lifestyle choices in
affluent countries and the situation in developing regions are closely interrelated.
Designing your own charter
unites people around its value.
Over 2 billion people need to consume more just to survive.
Sustainable Consumption (SC) is about how to consume differently and efficiently.
The output is a training kit, information, tools and tips to help in our daily choices.
In Spain, a version for kids and
youngsters was written and
translated in many languages.
The 1800 employees of San
José Municipality in Costa
Rica also have their version.
Help the Earth
Charter Initiative
in 2 steps:
This page will focus on:
Spreading the word
Next page on:
3 How can I help the Earth Charter Initiative?
Promote and disseminate the Earth Charter and its values
We receive many testimonies of how inspirational the Earth Charter is, you can use it as:
• a call to action and guide to a sustainable way of life that can inspire commitment, cooperation, and change.
• an invitation to individuals, institutions, and communities for internal reflection on fundamental attitudes.
Engaging others
There are many creative ways to communicate:
The Earth Charter in
my Daily Life
Beatriz Coningham, Brazil
It may seem naive but one very
simple way to support the Earth
Charter is simply
to talk about it to the people
that are closer.
I don’t mean to “convert”
anyone, attitude with which
I disagree, but simply to inform
them.
(…) I am sure people in
different professions in different
places will choose different
things to do.
Talk
about it
Provide copies of the Earth Charter text on brochures, downloading it, or using the Press Kit available on our
web site. “I gave an Earth Charter poster to my personal doctor, and he put one in his waiting room”.
Use opportunities to spread the word: Use your own experience and get ideas from successful activities. In
Boulder, during the Earth Charter Community Summits, they pointed out local governments, schools and local
businesses as main targets. The text besides expresses the fact we can all find our own way !
Special events are good occasions: A new or an existing conference or event where the organizers could include the
Earth Charter. Example: In Vermont, the Ark of Hope was created as a refuge for the Earth Charter handwritten on
papyrus. It received handcrafted books expressing individual and collaborative affirmations for Earth.
Use arts to communicate, poems, songs, drawings and paintings have been created from all over the world. In Brazil
an Earth Charter monument has been erected. (see our art page)
Organize workshops. Use your own experience to help convey a powerful message.
Look in the Appendix for Examples of Earth Charter
The Links
Workshops and information on the Initiative.
Press Kit: www.earthcharter.org/aboutus/press_kit.pdf
Bulletins & Reports: www.earthcharter.org/resources
Join others: Be aware of actions taken around you
Join our mailing list: www.earthcharter.org
by local associations or national representative.
National activities: www.earthcharter.org/country
See on our web site under “Country Activities”
Ark of Hope: www.ark-of-hope.org
and Bulletins & Reports.
Earth Charter Art Page: www.earthcharter.org/art
3
How can I help the Earth Charter Initiative?
Create activities to help others implement the Earth Charter values
Where can you direct your efforts?
In Appendix, you will find:
• Incorporate the Earth Charter into your organization’s mission statement, codes of conduct, programs, etc.
• Use the Earth Charter as a framework or guide for local, national or regional planning.
• Amplify the widespread political support expressed for the Earth Charter
How can you use the Earth Charter to help others towards sustainability?
• To inspire and motivate in the first step of communication with the organization / people you address.
• To educate others and help them understand the concept of Sustainable Development (see Unesco’s TLSF).
• To create constructive dialogue promoting reflection among all actors and sectors about ethics and sustainability.
• To implement accountability measures, including the Earth Charter as a basis for developing laws and
measurable indicators, and for improving governance and assessing progress towards sustainability.
• Contact active groups with the Earth Charter in your country or region, and/or the International Secretariat.
• Use the political support expressed during Johannesburg’s WSSD and preparation process by governments,
local governments associations, educational institutions and many others.
• Find out and study the existing lobbying strategies and local activities used by other activists worldwide.
Specific groups
The next pages provide information about specific groups, and the actions that
are or can be taken to help them implement the Earth Charter values
Educators
Local communities
• More information on the
Earth Charter Initiative:
- The text & its structure
- Origin, History and
Structural Information
on the Initiative
• Tips to launch a project and
design a strategy
And remember:
• The Earth Charter
International Secretariat
can help
Where can you find some support?
Have it
used
Tips and information
you can use to create
your activities
Youth
Business
• The Earth Charter web site
provides a lot of useful
information.
"I tend to get cynical about the
state of the world, so I need
events like this to remind
me to have hope,and
that individual actions
are important to
create change".
US Participant in an Earth
Charter Community Summit
Transformative education
is needed: education that
helps bring about the
fundamental changes
demanded by the
challenges of
sustainability.
Synthesis- Earth Charter Education
Advisory Committee On-line Forum
Why does the Earth
Charter provide a
unique framework
for education ?
Because the Earth Charter:
• Was produced as the
result of a decade long,
multicultural global
dialogue.
• Helps explain the
interconnectedness of our
planet and conveys a sense
of universal responsibility.
• Articulates the principles
for promoting a sustainable
future
• Provides the necessary
pedagogical tool for a
culture of peace
 Educators
The Earth Charter bridges the gap between subjects
There is much that remains to do in bringing the concept of sustainability to the education.
The Earth Charter helps as an instrument to bring the vision of sustainability.
Particularly the need to shift our fragmented approach to education to a
more integral understanding that one field is interrelated to the other.
Educational objectives when using the Earth Charter
Consciousness raising – Deepening awareness and understanding
Example: Several children’s versions of the Earth Charter have been developed and are made available to
educators from the earliest years of school curriculum. Local and foreign language teachers can use part or
the whole charter as material to work or discuss from.
Application of principles – Looking at the values and their implementation in formal or informal setting
Example: Principles 5 and 7 referring to Ecological Integrity can be used in the study of the notion of
Ecological Footprint in Science classes.
Call for action – Gathering people and organizations around its values
Example: With 800 different language groups, Papua New Guinea represents the most diverse and unique
cultural heritage. Its 870 tribes used the Earth Charter to create their Mama Graun Tribal Charter.
In the hands of a dedicated educator, the Earth Charter is its own best resource.
The Links
www.earthcharter.org/education/stimulus_material.doc : Earth Charter Stimulus Material
for Creative Arts, English and other languages, Mathematics, Science, and Technology.
www.ecreflection4action.org : The Earth Charter – A study book of Reflection for Action
developed in chapter 12 “a study guide for use in classroom and small groups”.
 Educators
Teaching further the values of Earth Charter
“Earth Charter: Pathway
to a sustainable future?”
MSU Course
1- Use the Earth Charter in programs and activities to explain what is Sustainable Development
“Using the preamble to teach our common critical challenges, our sense of interdependence, and the need to live with
an ethic of universal responsibility. The rationale is that once interdependence and responsibility is accepted, people
will be more likely to adopt the 16 principles as a guide for action.” A. Brenes, Earth Charter Education Adviser.
2- Teach about the Earth Charter itself and the need for an emerging global ethics for the
common good
From the history of the Earth Charter, its integration in major international text, through its main themes, or following
its principles, the Earth Charter is an educational tool to promote a sustainable way of life. Teaching about the Earth
Charter can be achieved in many ways: Michigan States University (USA) developed a full course (see on the right).
3- Incorporate the Earth Charter in a Curriculum
In the Ubuntu Declaration, 11 of the world's foremost global educational organizations and scientific academies states
that “there is a need to integrate a sustainable development focus into the curriculum at every level of education,
starting in primary school.” See Earth Charter Curriculum Stimulus Material (link on the precedent page): different
areas of study with each section including a main theme, background on the topic, activities and outcomes.
Get support: the Education Database
It will bring together the dispersed body of educators and educational materials that have been
developed all over the world using the Earth Charter as a guiding framework. This information is
classified by category, language, and country and made available via our web-site so that can be
accessed by the world, with a description field and accompanying documentation if available.
www.earthcharter.org/education/database
This course focus on the Earth
Charter document as a vehicle
for personal, institutional,
community,
national
and
global transformation.
Students have the opportunity
to engage with a variety of
speakers as they address the
fundamental principles of the
Earth Charter.
One session out of two will be
structured as dialogue circles
for shared reflection on putting
the Earth Charter into action.
www.ecofoot.msu.edu/new/ea
rthcharterflyer.htm
The Earth Charter
Education Advisory
Committee
It has been set up to offer
resources, to manage new
educational activities, new
questions from educators that
want to use the Earth Charter.
www.earthcharter.org/educat
ion/committee.htm
The Earth Charter
in your Local
Community
in 2 steps
 Local Communities
Seek the engagement of your Community
This page will focus on
Seeking Engagement
Next page on
Implementing the values
How to best approach
a local community ?
Of course, things are
different from one country to
the other, and even within the
same regions, but here are 2
tips that could apply to you:
1- Use your contacts and your
existing activities.
2- To reach everyone faster,
here are key targets:
• Schools: mobilize the kids,
the parents will follow.
• Local Businesses: they
have a big impact on the
community.
• Associations: they bring
together active people.
• Local Governments, since
they are in charge of many
decisions.
Using the Earth Charter as a guide in moving towards a sustainable community can help define interests
and values, and can lead to commonly shared vision and outcomes, even between diverse interests.
1- Define your strategy
• The purpose may be to integrate the Earth Charter as part of the common vision or aspiration for the community.
• One first step is to have all people of your own group understands the vision of the Earth Charter.
• You can find tips on this page and in the Appendix Tips to launch a project.
2- Use existing support and find inspiration in the actions of others
(See the links below)
• In Johannesburg, a major international association of Local Governments affirmed their support to the Earth
Charter:”To develop a new and deeper culture of sustainability in our cities and localities,(…) we ask all local
governments to discuss endorsement of the Earth Charter”. Use this support when promoting the Earth Charter.
• Spain’s 8.104 municipalities received the Earth Charter from DEYNA Foundation. Only three months later, 142
had already endorsed the Earth Charter.
• Starting in the USA, but becoming international, the Earth Charter Community Summits are helping a lot
to create a momentum in local communities. After this year’s summit, the mayor of Minneapolis proclaimed
September 28th to be “Earth Charter Day”, and in Boulder the Centre for Sustainable Business Education was
created to help businesses with the transition to sustainability.
Links:
www.iclei.org/rioplusten for Johannesburg Call and Local Government
Declaration, also web site of our partner ICLEI
www.earthchartersummits.org to find out more of the local outcomes of the Earth
Charter Summits, and get more ideas on people’s local actions.
www.earthcharter.org/communities/communities.htm to find more on the Earth
Charter’s Local Community program
 Local Communities
Implement the Earth Charter in your Community
Getting key actors
of your Community to
implement the Charter
3 Examples of Local Governments and associations implementing the Earth Charter
City of Joondalup, Australia:
The City of Joondalup is applying the Earth Charter as part of its Strategic Planning process. A comparison between
Council policies and the Earth Charter demonstrates significant common ground between the two and the value of the
Earth Charter as a tool in local government strategic planning.
www.earthcharter.org/communities/Joondalup_casestudy.pdf
Toronto & Region Conservation Authority, Canada
After its endorsement of the Earth Charter, TRCA used a very interesting chart to better understand the vision and
prepare its implementation of the Earth Charter. They went through the Charter and pointed out the principles and
sub-principles specially relevant to them. Then for each of them, they came up with their interpretation and comments
of the sub-principle and how it can be implemented in their organization.
www.earthcharter.org/communities/TRCA_application_of_EC.doc
San Jose Municipality, Costa Rica
They developed a project for the training and integration of the Earth Charter principles into the daily activities of the
city employees, as part of a vision towards a sustainable future. About 1800 employees participated, including police,
administration, infrastructure, sanitation, and health departments.
www.earthcharter.org/country then go to Costa Rica
Getting endorsements is a big
step indeed, but the values
need to be implemented to lead
us all towards sustainability.
You can help each of those
organizations and, with their
help, the local population to:
1. Understand the vision by
having workshops put together
for their members and others.
This is especially essential to
understand the concept of
sustainable development.
2. Use the Earth Charter in
their
strategy
planning
process (see on this page).
3. Use it to create and rate
their activities (see beside).
Rating your activities with the Earth Charter
To monitor your progress towards sustainability, or to identify the main needs:
1- List all your activities, with eventually some decomposition in major tasks
2- For each task or activity:
• Note the relevant principles or sub-principles of the Earth Charter
• Rate yourself for each principle, fixing objectives, identifying gaps
• Design a strategy towards your goals, keeping in mind the interconnectedness of
the similar efforts you might have to do for different tasks.
You can also use the Earth
Charter as a values
framework for assessing
progress
towards
sustainability and for
designing
professional
codes of conduct and
accountability systems.
 Youth
Why is the Earth
Charter important?
Because people live
on the Earth.
4 years old US Citizen
Youth Activism and the Earth Charter
Youth is given a special place in the international movement towards sustainability, as the ones who will live with the
consequences, and as agents of change. You can use the ideas described in other sections of this document, and
here are some specific ideas and resources you can use and projects you can join:
IYECC* activities – Implementing the values is becoming a higher priority through:
IYECC*
The International Youth
Earth Charter Coalition
is made up of a core-group of
young people from different
countries committed to the
Earth Charter, and active in
bringing it to a larger number
of young people worldwide.
Individuals and groups can join
the IYECC with the only
criteria of actively promoting
the Earth Charter locally and
internationally. We are aiming
at having a cultural diverse
group
with
a thorough
understanding of the Earth
Charter Process.
www.earthcharter.org/youth
• Earth Charter Youth Groups: Young people getting organized to act locally more efficiently.
• Local Projects are going on in many places, as an Earth Charter Youth Forum in Mato Grosso, Brazil, Dec 2002
• Participation in international Youth initiatives, as in the Youth Caucus for the World Summit on Sustainable
Development. It proved being efficient since the Earth Charter was part of youth declarations during the Summit.
Networking (see also links below):
• Opportunities other age groups have less is educational projects students have to write or create: the Earth
Charter is a never ending subject and that’s a way to do your work while promoting those values you endorsed!
• Schools, universities, and youth associations generally understand quickly the importance of the Earth Charter.
They are important places to have its values promoted and implemented.
Support:
• Many national programs support youth projects, especially the ones linking North and South countries around
sustainable development and peace. Get information locally and use the Earth Charter for a deeper content.
Links – 2 IYECC Partners
www.EarthYouth.net : a network of young people acting for a more sustainable planet,
working together on projects, and sharing experiences. Some of the most active
international youth organizations are in the section About us / International Partners.
www.YouthEmploymentSummit.org : the launch of a Decade Campaign of Action, so
that an additional 500 million young adults, especially youth facing poverty, will have
productive and sustainable livelihoods by the year 2012.
 Businesses
Business has not been part of
the main focus of the Earth
Charter Initiative so far.
Mainly due to our other
priorities, it explains the lack
of case studies.
Here are a few ideas and please
contact us if you want some
support in your actions.
A few reasons for a
business to implement
the Earth Charter
1- For many companies, hiring
and keeping employees is a
major cost. People will stay
longer if they feel the ethic of
their company suits theirs.
2- Customers are more and
more demanding on the
social
responsibility
of
companies. The loss in
publicity of a bad campaign is
worth a lot of investment to be
more sustainable.
3- Leading companies in the
field are realizing that the
return on investment is very
quick: lower consumption of
resources, better efficiency of
employees,
and
better
acceptance by the public are
some of the reasons.
Why and how to implement the Earth Charter in Businesses
For businesses, the Earth Charter can be a values framework for assessing progress
towards sustainability and for designing professional codes of conduct and accountability systems.
Endorsed by the World Federation of Engineers, and Calvert ethical investment firm,
the Earth Charter complements other initiatives like ISO 14001 and Agenda 21, by offering
the needed ethical framework, “the simpler guidelines around the large amount of regulations”.
At what level can you use the Earth Charter?
• You can build the ethical code of conduct of your company on the Earth Charter. ManyOne Networks is
guided by the principles found in the Earth Charter: ”We believe that the Earth Charter represents the most
complete and balanced expression of global social priorities yet achieved. We believe that every organization’s
first responsibility is to the world as a whole, not to its narrower self-interests.”
• You can use it for for your Strategic Planning and to assess if your projects answer today’s challenges.
See examples of Joondalup and TRCA in the Local Communities section
• You can promote the use of the Earth Charter to educate your employees on sustainable development.
Business companies can make significant contribution to society through its activities,
its social investment and philanthropy programmes, and its engagement in public policy.
The way in which a company manages its activities and its relationship with other
sectors is vital to the contribution it may offer to society as a whole.
Links on Sustainable Development for Businesses
www.wbcsd.org World Business Council on Sustainable Development
www.naturalstep.org A non for profit organization that helps businesses and
governments integrate sustainability.
www.sustainablebusiness.com Information and networking in the field
The Earth Charter
is made of:
•Preamble
•16 Principles divided
in 4 parts
•Conclusion “The
Way Forward”
The Earth Charter
(1/3)
Preamble
We stand at a critical moment in Earth's history, a time when humanity must choose its future. As the world becomes
increasingly interdependent and fragile, the future at once holds great peril and great promise. To move forward we must
recognize that in the midst of a magnificent diversity of cultures and life forms we are one human family and one Earth
community with a common destiny. We must join together to bring forth a sustainable global society founded on respect
for nature, universal human rights, economic justice, and a culture of peace. Towards this end, it is imperative that we,
the peoples of Earth, declare our responsibility to one another, to the greater community of life, and to future generations.
Earth, Our Home
Humanity is part of a vast evolving universe. Earth, our home, is alive with a unique community of life. The forces of nature make existence a demanding and uncertain
adventure, but Earth has provided the conditions essential to life's evolution. The resilience of the community of life and the well-being of humanity depend upon
preserving a healthy biosphere with all its ecological systems, a rich variety of plants and animals, fertile soils, pure waters, and clean air. The global environment with its
finite resources is a common concern of all peoples. The protection of Earth's vitality, diversity, and beauty is a sacred trust.
The Global Situation
The dominant patterns of production and consumption are causing environmental devastation, the depletion of resources, and a massive extinction of species.
Communities are being undermined. The benefits of development are not shared equitably and the gap between rich and poor is widening. Injustice, poverty, ignorance,
and violent conflict are widespread and the cause of great suffering. An unprecedented rise in human population has overburdened ecological and social systems. The
foundations of global security are threatened. These trends are perilous—but not inevitable.
The Challenges Ahead
The choice is ours: form a global partnership to care for Earth and one another or risk the destruction of ourselves and the diversity of life. Fundamental changes are
needed in our values, institutions, and ways of living. We must realize that when basic needs have been met, human development is primarily about being more, not
having more. We have the knowledge and technology to provide for all and to reduce our impacts on the environment. The emergence of a global civil society is creating
new opportunities to build a democratic and humane world. Our environmental, economic, political, social, and spiritual challenges are interconnected, and together we
can forge inclusive solutions.
Universal Responsibility
To realize these aspirations, we must decide to live with a sense of universal responsibility, identifying ourselves with the whole Earth community as well as our local
communities. We are at once citizens of different nations and of one world in which the local and global are linked. Everyone shares responsibility for the present and
future well-being of the human family and the larger living world. The spirit of human solidarity and kinship with all life is strengthened when we live with reverence for
the mystery of being, gratitude for the gift of life, and humility regarding the human place in nature.
We urgently need a shared vision of basic values to provide an ethical foundation for the emerging world community. Therefore, together in hope we
affirm the following interdependent principles for a sustainable way of life as a common standard by which the conduct of all individuals, organizations,
businesses, governments, and transnational institutions is to be guided and assessed.
Respect and Care for the Community of Life
Social and Economic Justice
Ecological Integrity
Democracy, Non-violence, and Peace
The 16 Principles are
supported by 61 subprinciples.
The Earth Charter
Principles
This is a shorter version of
the Earth Charter.
You can find the complete
version in many languages
on www.earthcharter.org
(2/3)
I. RESPECT AND CARE FOR THE COMMUNITY OF LIFE
1.
2.
3.
4.
Respect Earth and life in all its diversity.
Care for the community of life with understanding, compassion, and love.
Build democratic societies that are just, participatory, sustainable, and peaceful.
Secure Earth's bounty and beauty for present and future generations.
In order to fulfill these four broad commitments, it is necessary to:
II. ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY
5.
6.
7.
8.
Protect and restore the integrity of Earth's ecological systems, with special concern for biological diversity and the natural processes that sustain life.
Prevent harm as the best method of environmental protection and, when knowledge is limited, apply a precautionary approach.
Adopt patterns of production, consumption, and reproduction that safeguard Earth's regenerative capacities, human rights, and community well-being.
Advance the study of ecological sustainability and promote the open exchange and wide application of the knowledge acquired.
III. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE
9. Eradicate poverty as an ethical, social, and environmental imperative.
10. Ensure that economic activities and institutions at all levels promote human development in an equitable and sustainable manner.
11. Affirm gender equality and equity as prerequisites to sustainable development and ensure universal access to education, health care, and economic
opportunity.
12. Uphold the right of all, without discrimination, to a natural and social environment supportive of human dignity, bodily health, and spiritual wellbeing, with special attention to the rights of indigenous peoples and minorities.
IV. DEMOCRACY, NONVIOLENCE, AND PEACE
13. Strengthen democratic institutions at all levels, and provide transparency and accountability in governance, inclusive participation in decision making,
and access to justice.
14. Integrate into formal education and life-long learning the knowledge, values, and skills needed for a sustainable way of life.
15. Treat all living beings with respect and consideration.
16. Promote a culture of tolerance, non-violence, and peace.
The Earth Charter is a
declaration of fundamental
principles for building a
just, sustainable, and
peaceful global society in the
21st century.
It seeks to inspire in all peoples
a new sense of global
interdependence and shared
responsibility.
Respect and Care
for the
Community of
Life
Ecological
Integrity
Social and
Economic Justice
Democracy, Nonviolence, and
Peace
The Earth Charter
(3/3)
The Way Forward
As never before in history, common destiny beckons us to seek a new beginning. Such renewal is the
promise of these Earth Charter principles. To fulfill this promise, we must commit ourselves to adopt and
promote the values and objectives of the Charter.
This requires a change of mind and heart. It requires a new sense of global interdependence and universal
responsibility. We must imaginatively develop and apply the vision of a sustainable way of life locally,
nationally, regionally, and globally. Our cultural diversity is a precious heritage and different cultures will
find their own distinctive ways to realize the vision. We must deepen and expand the global dialogue that
generated the Earth Charter, for we have much to learn from the ongoing collaborative search for truth and
wisdom.
Life often involves tensions between important values. This can mean difficult choices. However, we
must find ways to harmonize diversity with unity, the exercise of freedom with the common good, shortterm objectives with long-term goals. Every individual, family, organization, and community has a vital
role to play. The arts, sciences, religions, educational institutions, media, businesses, nongovernmental
organizations, and governments are all called to offer creative leadership. The partnership of government,
civil society, and business is essential for effective governance.
In order to build a sustainable global community, the nations of the world must renew their commitment to
the United Nations, fulfill their obligations under existing international agreements, and support the
implementation of Earth Charter principles with an international legally binding instrument on
environment and development.
Let ours be a time remembered for the awakening of a new reverence for life, the firm resolve to achieve
sustainability, the quickening of the struggle for justice and peace, and the joyful celebration of life.
"The Earth Charter embodies
our shared destiny. By
adopting the principles of the
Charter, we, the community of
Earth in all its diversity,
reinforce our commitment to
protect our common home".
Princess Basma Bint
Talal of Jordan
"The Earth Charter vision
reflects the conviction that
caring for people and
caring for Earth are two
interdependent dimensions
of one task.
We cannot care for people
in a world with collapsing
ecosystems, and we cannot
care for Earth in a world
with widespread poverty,
injustice, economic
inequity, and violent
conflict".
Prof. Steven C. Rockefeller,
Chair, Earth Charter
Steering Committee
The Earth Charter Structure
Find your way through the layered structure of the Earth Charter
A preamble briefly describing the major challenges and choices facing humanity.
16 Principles divided in 4 parts.
The 1st principle is the foundation of the next 3 and of all the other principles in the Charter.
The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th principles in Part I (Respect and care for the community of life) deal with the
three major spheres of human relationship and ethical responsibility: relations between human beings
and the greater community of life, relations among human beings in society, and the relations
between present and future generations.
12 main principles in Parts II, III, and IV spelling out more fully the meaning of the first four
principles. The titles of these three parts--"Ecological Integrity," "Social and Economic Justice," and
"Democracy, Non-violence, and Peace"--indicate the inclusive nature of the Earth Charter vision.
61 supporting principles dealing with critical issues are clarifying
the meaning of the 16 main principles.
The conclusion, entitled "The Way Forward“, is a call for commitment and action.
The whole Charter is understood as a path to peace,
defined in the last principle as "the wholeness created by right relationships with oneself, other
persons, other cultures, other life, Earth, and the larger whole of which all are a part."
The Earth Charter includes
the outcomes of 7 UN
summits:
Children
New-York, 1990
Earth Summit Rio, 1992
Human Rights Vienna, 1993
Population and Development
Cairo, 1994
Social Development
Copenhagen, 1994
Women
Beijing, 1995
Habitat
Istanbul, 1996
The World Summit on
Sustainable Development
(WSSD), Sept. 2002,
was one of the main benchmarks
of the Earth Charter Initiative.
During that occasion the Charter
received major and various
support including the opening
speech, 8 nations’ heads of states
interventions, the main Local
Communities and Education
organizations worldwide. The
Charter was in the first drafts of
the political declaration, and
influenced some of the final
version: a lot remains to work
with for the future.
WSSD Report
http://www.earthcharter.org/ws
sd/summit_report.doc
Preparatory Process Report
http://www.earthcharter.org/ws
sd/Prep_WSSD_Report.doc
The Earth Charter Initiative – General Information
(1/2)
Origin and history of the Earth Charter
In 1987 the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission) issued a
call for creation of a new charter that would set forth fundamental principles for sustainable development. The
drafting of an Earth Charter was part of the unfinished business of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. In 1994 Maurice
Strong, the Secretary General of the Earth Summit and Chairman of the Earth Council, and Mikhail Gorbachev,
President of Green Cross International, launched a new Earth Charter initiative with support from the Dutch
government. An Earth Charter Commission was formed in 1997 to oversee the project and the wide international
consultation process.
An Earth Charter Secretariat was established at the Earth Council in Costa Rica. A new phase in the Initiative began
with the official launching of the Earth Charter at the Peace Palace in The Hague on June 29, 2000.
Mission of the Earth Charter Initiative
The mission of the Initiative going forward is to establish a sound ethical foundation for the emerging global society
and to help build a sustainable world based on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice, and a
culture of peace.
The goals of the Earth Charter Initiative are:
• To promote the dissemination, endorsement, and implementation of the Earth Charter by civil society,
business, and government.
• To encourage and support the educational use of the Earth Charter.
• To seek endorsement of the Earth Charter by the UN.
The Earth Charter Handbook
A 2001 publication with in-depth information on the Initiative in 6 main parts:
What is the Earth Charter? (FAQ)
Organizational Structure
Activities and Programs
How you can participate
History
Examples of the Earth Charter in Action
www.earthcharter.org/resources/publications/handbook.pdf
More on the Earth Charter :
www.earthcharter.org/aboutus
• Background Documents
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Overview of Activities
• PowerPoint Presentations
• Information on the Earth
Charter Commissioners
Earth Charter
International Secretariat
The Earth Charter Initiative – General Information
(2/2)
PO Box 319-6100
San José – Costa Rica
Organizational Structure
Phone: + 506 205 1600
Fax: + 506 249 3500
[email protected]
www.earthcharter.org
Commissioners
Latin America and the
Caribbean
Mercedes Sosa (Co-chair)
Leonardo Boff
Yolanda Kakabadse
Shridath Ramphal
Asia and the Pacific
Kamla Chowdhry (Co-chair)
A. T. Ariyaratne
Wakako Hironaka
Pauline Tangiora
Erna Witoelar
Europe
Mikhail Gorbachev (Co-chair)
Pierre Calame
Ruud Lubbers
Federico Mayor
Henriette Rasmussen
Awraham Soeterndorp
The Earth Charter Commission, established in 1997, oversaw the consultation and drafting process. It will
meet infrequently in the future, and only for decisions concerning major changes in the goals and governance of the
Initiative. A short biography of each member is available on:
www.earthcharter.org/aboutus/commissioners.htm
A Steering Committee has been established to oversee the operations and programs. It is formed by members of
the Earth Charter Commission and co-chaired by Kamla Chowdhry (India), Yolanda Kakabadse (Ecuador), Ruud
Lubbers (The Netherlands), and Steven Rockefeller (USA).
The Earth Charter International Secretariat works with the global network of the Earth Charter, and
coordinates its major programs from Costa Rica, on the campus of the University for Peace.
National Focal Points and Local Contacts: In many countries, organizations and/or individuals work with
the Earth Charter, disseminate it and promote its implementation. They are active in some or all of the programs of
the Initiative, and usually have their own Earth Charter related projects. It is helpful to contact them before starting
new projects to understand local opinions and ideas on what has been done, what works or not. Activities and
contacts by country are available on:
www.earthcharter.org/country/
North America
Maurice F. Strong (Co-chair)
John Hoyt
Elizabeth May
Steven C. Rockefeller
Severn Cullis Suzuki
Africa and the Middle East
Amadou Toumani Toure (Co-chair)
Princess Basma Bint Talal of Jordan
Wangari Maathai
Mohamed Sahnoun
The International Youth
Earth Charter Coalition
supports youth organizations
and individuals working to
bring the Earth Charter and its
values to young people.
Thanks to its actions, youth
declarations in WSSD included
the Earth Charter.
www.earthcharter.org/youth
Example 3:
Examples of Earth Charter Workshops
• Dream your community in 30 years.
• What are the problems you are
facing to achieve that dream?
• What solutions can you find? What
values do you need ?
• Compare them to the Earth Charter
or draft your own Charter before
comparing.
Example 1:
Below is a sequence of reflections you can follow and
illustrate with pictures, graphs and concrete examples to answer:
Why values? Why the Earth Charter? How do you inspire people to use it?
1. The Challenges we face:
Example 2:
An Earth Charter
Introductory Workshop
During the workshop, the group
explored their shared values,
deepened their understanding of
sustainability and interdependence,
and came up with ways to take
daily actions to contribute to a
sustainable way of life.
« (Promoting the Earth Charter)
is not about carrying the
document around like a set of
rules, but about how we connect
with the values in it, and share
those with others. »
The structure of this
workshop can be found on:
www.earthcharter.org/youth/EC_in
troworkshop_Dumi_BRC.doc
Mahatma Gandhi: “Mother Earth has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.”
The Earth Charter: “Once basic needs have been met, human development is about 'being more' not
having more.”
2. What is preventing us from solving them:
Many people think that to change the unsustainable way we live, it's not the resources or knowledge
needed we lack, but motivation, political will, and compassion.
3. We need a common statement of ethical values:
We need to build bridges and bring different groups and culture together: “We are at once citizens of
different nations and of one world in which the local and global are linked” (The Earth Charter)
The different aspects of human development (social, ecological, cultural, spiritual, political, economic)
need to be balanced, and this is what the integrated vision of the Earth Charter offers.
4. Building on existing instruments: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, over 50 years old, is
still very valuable, but is limited to human rights. The Earth Charter can be a next step to it.
5. The Earth Charter (Origin, History, Mission and goals):
(Information in the precedent pages)
It does not belong to any group and was developed through a global dialogue. It is at the same time a
document, a process and a movement.
“When people are worried with the fact that they've never heard of it, I quite often say
that I feel we're at the beginning of our own 50-year process of learning,
education and awareness-raising. That somehow reassures them.”
Tips to launch a project
What you know,
You don’t say.
What you don’t say,
You forget.
These basic tips on projects are
here to avoid the above.
From the idea, to the realization …
One suggestion for developing a project (again, there are other ways)
1. Decide what you want to do.
Basic Knowledge
on Projects
• Do you want to work locally or further (scope of your involvement)?
• Who in the society do you want to reach (your target audience)?
• What outcomes do you want to have?
A project is something unique,
from its content and/or its
environments, and has a
defined beginning and end.
• Do you want people to know about the Earth Charter or to implement its values?
2. With the resources you have (financial, knowledge, time, …), develop a few ideas.
• Avoid starting with a huge plan if you are not used to such activities.
Its mission statement must be
clear and shared by all actors.
It can be useful to be precise
regarding what is and what is
not in the project’s scope.
• It might be wise to work as a team, or as an association. At least seek for support and advices around you.
3. Make a quick survey to find out what has been done.
• In the scope of your project: who can help you, who to create a partnership with.
• Seek for advices with others in the Earth Charter network.
Its objectives reflect “Who
gets What When”. Achievable
deadlines are necessary.
The strategies and planning
following from the objectives
must be built and agreed on by
all actors in concert.
4. Write a precise mission for your projects, with defined objectives.
• See Basic Knowledge on Projects on this page for a few advices.
5. Break your project in logical steps and tasks with deadlines … and start acting.
6. Report progress and good ideas back to us, so that they can be used elsewhere !