Earth Charter

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The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental ethical principles for sustainable development on a global scale and was originally intended to be ratified by the international community as a binding treaty under international law .

Just like the Global Ethic project , the Earth Charter attempts to formulate the ethical basis for a humane and democratic world order in order, among other things, to avert impending ecological catastrophes .

History of origin

The suggestion for the development of the Earth Charter came from a recommendation of the United Nations Commission for Sustainable Development , headed by Gro Harlem Brundtland , in the so-called Brundtland Report 1987, where an international convention for sustainable development was proposed. In the run-up to the Rio Earth Summit, this became an Earth Charter.

With the Earth Charter, a legally binding framework for sustainable development as well as various tasks and programs of Agenda 21 is to be agreed. At the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 , no agreement could be reached on this and only a non-binding declaration (Rio Declaration) was adopted. It proved to be a particular problem to consider the interests of the developing countries in a consensual manner.

The initiative was taken by the Council of the Earth (Earth Council in Costa Rica ) and the International Green Cross with support from the Dutch resumed government. This was preceded by a conference in 1993, organized by the Franziscan Study Center for Environment ( Rome ), where a first draft was developed. In a worldwide open discussion, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals developed a new document, the final version of which was adopted in 2000 and presented to the public.

At the World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg (South Africa) in 2002, the Earth Charter was not officially discussed and adopted, as the initiators aimed for. In a so-called type 2 agreement, however, a multi-year educational program ( Educating for Sustainable Living with the Earth Charter ) was agreed under the leadership of the international Earth Charter Secretariat in Costa Rica , which makes the principles of the Earth Charter known and brings it to life should. The Earth Charter Organization continues to solicit international support and signing of the document by governments, organizations, groups and individuals.

Basic principles

The Earth Charter is based on respect for nature, responsibility for the environment, social and economic justice and a global culture of peace. The introduction states: “The Earth Charter states that the ecological , economic , social, cultural, ethical and spiritual problems and hopes of mankind are closely linked. The challenges of freedom , justice and peace are closely linked to protecting the environment and worrying about economic well-being. Comprehensive solutions can only be found in a global partnership and with shared responsibility . "

The guidelines are formulated in 16 articles:

Respect the earth and life in all its diversity.

Caring for the community of life in understanding, compassion and love.

Build just , participatory , sustainable and peaceful democratic societies.

Secure the abundance and beauty of the earth for present and future generations .

Protect and restore the entirety of the earth's ecosystems , especially biodiversity and the natural processes that sustain life.

Avoiding damage before it occurs is the best environmental policy . With limited knowledge , the precautionary principle must be applied.

Shaping production , consumption and reproduction in such a way that they safeguard the earth's powers of renewal, human rights and the common good .

Promote the study of ecological sustainability and promote the open exchange of the knowledge acquired and its global application.

Eliminate poverty as an ethical , social and ecological imperative.

Ensure that economic activities and institutions at all levels promote equitable and sustainable development.

The equality affirm gender as a prerequisite for sustainable development and universal access to education , health guarantee and economic opportunities.

Adhere to the right of everyone - without exception - to a natural and social environment that supports human dignity, physical health and spiritual well-being. Particular attention is paid to the rights of indigenous peoples and minorities.

Strengthen democratic institutions at all levels, ensure transparency and accountability in the exercise of power , including participation and the right to be heard.

Integrate into formal education and lifelong learning the knowledge , values and skills that are necessary for a sustainable lifestyle.

Treat all living beings with consideration and respect.

Promote a culture of tolerance, non-violence and peace.

The Earth Charter can be signed by individuals and organizations.

Independent voices

In a study for the German Sustainability Council , the IFOK Institute in Bensheim writes that the proposal for an Earth Charter obviously takes up a global need to find a third pillar , alongside the two classic pillars of the UN Charter and the Human Rights Convention , which is the Dedicated to the search for globally shared values and the relationship between people and their environment.

Web links

Individual evidence

^ Declaration on the signing of the Earth Charter , German Earth Charter Coordination Office

↑ Sustainability and globalization, participation, democracy - identification of contexts and design approaches ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , by Andreas Renner, Institute for Organizational Communication, June 8, 2002, p. 89@1@ 2

[Unterzeichnen-1] Declaration on the signing of the Earth Charter , German Earth Charter Coordination Office