The earth Charter represents a declaration of fundamental ethical principles for a lasting development in the global yardstick and is as according to international law obligatory contract of the international community of states to be ratified.

Developing history

The suggestion for the development of the earth Charter proceeded from a recommendation of the commission of the United Nations for lasting development, under the direction of Gro Harlem Brundtland, in the so-called Brundtland report 1987, where an international-law convention for lasting development was suggested (Stappen 2005). From this an earth Charter became in the apron of the Rio Erdgipfel.

With the earth Charter according to international law, obligatory framework for the lasting development, as well as different tasks and programs of the agenda 21 should be agreed upon. To the conference of the United Nations for environment and development 1992 in Rio de Janeiro for this no agreement could be obtained and it only a noncommittal declaration (Rio explanation) was discharged. As problem it particularly proved to consider the interests of the developing countries consentable.

The initiative was resumed by the advice of the earth (Earth Council in Costa Rica) and by international becoming green cross with support of the Netherlands government. Had preceded a conference 1993, organized from the Franziscan Study center for Environment (Rome), where a first draft was developed. During a world-wide open discussion process non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals developed a new document, which in the final version in the year 2000 discharged and to which public was presented.

On the world summit for lasting development in Johannesburg 2002 the earth Charter was aimed at not, as by the initiators, discussed and discharged officially. In a so-called type 2-Abkommen however an education program of several years (Educating for Sustainable Living with the Earth charter) under leadership of the international earth Charter secretariat in Costa Rica was agreed upon, which admits the principles of the earth Charter to make and with lives fulfill was. The earth Charter organization recruits further international support and signing of the document by governments, organizations, groups and individuals.

Basic principles

Form basis of the earth Charter the attention for nature, responsibility for the environment, the social and economic justice and a world-wide culture of the peace. In the introduction it means: "“The earth Charter states that the ecological, economic, social, cultural, ethical and mirror-image-ritual problems and hopes of mankind are closely connected with one another. The challenges to liberty, justice and peace are closely linked with the protection of the environment and the concern around the economic well-being being issued. Only in a global partnership and within common responsibility comprehensive solutions can be found."”

The guidelines are formulated into 16 articles:

1. Attention have before the earth and the life in its whole variety.
2. For the community of the life in understanding, sympathy and love provide.
3. Fair, partizipatorische, lasting and peaceful democratic societies develop.
4. The abundance and beauty of the earth for today's and future generations secure.
5. , Above all the biological variety and the natural processes, which receive the life, protect and restore the entireness of the ecological systems of the earth.
6. Damage avoid, before they develop, is the best environmental policy. During limited knowledge it applies to use the precaution principle.
7. Production, consumption and reproduction in such a way arrange that it the renewal forces of the earth, which human rights and the public interest secure.
8. The study of ecological lastingness advance and the open exchange of the acquired realizations and their world-wide application promote.
9. Poverty eliminate as ethical, social and ecological requirement.
10. Guarantee that economical activities and mechanisms on all levels get the fair and lasting development going.
11. The equal rights of the sexes as a condition for lasting development affirm and the universal entrance to education, health service and restaurant economics ensure.
12. To the right all - without exception - on a natural and social environment hold, which, physical health and mirror-image-ritual well-being being issued support. Special attention applies thereby for the rights of indigenen peoples and minorities.
13. Democratic mechanisms on all levels strengthen, for transparency and accountability with the practice of power ensure, including participation and legal hearing.
14. Into the formal education and into lifelong learning the knowledge, which values and abilities integrate, which are necessary for a lasting way of life.
15. All organisms considerationful and with attention treat.
16. A culture of the tolerance, the non-violence and the peace promote.

Related links

• The Earth Charter initiative
• German earth Charter coordination center
• Earth Charter text
• Urversion of the earth Charter (Rome 1993)

Articles in category "Earth Charter"

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