Earth Charter

The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental ethical principles for sustainable development on a global scale and is to be ratified as an international legally-binding contract of the international community.

Genesis

The inspiration for the development of the Earth Charter was based on a recommendation of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, headed by Gro Harlem Brundtland, the so-called Brundtland Report in 1987, where an international legal convention for sustainable development was proposed. Hence the Rio Earth Summit was an Earth Charter in advance.

With the Earth Charter a legally binding framework for sustainable development, as well as different tasks and programs of Agenda 21 is to be agreed. At the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro this, no agreement could be reached and there was only a non-binding declaration ( Rio Declaration ) was adopted. As a problem, it proved particularly to take into account the interests of developing countries consensus.

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

At the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg ( South Africa) 2002, the Earth Charter was not, as intended by the initiators, officially discussed and adopted. In a so-called type 2 Agreement, however, a multi-year training program ( Educating for Sustainable Living with the Earth Charter ) was agreed under the auspices of the international Earth Charter Secretariat in Costa Rica, which promotes the principles of the Earth Charter known and fill them with life. The Earth Charter Organization promotes further international support and the document is signed by governments, organizations, groups and individuals.

Basic principles

The basis of the Earth Charter, respect for nature, responsibility for the environment, social and economic justice and a global culture of peace. In the introduction it says, " The Earth Charter states that the ecological, economic, social, cultural, ethical and spiritual problems and hopes of humanity are closely linked, the challenges to freedom, justice and peace are closely linked to the. protection of the environment and concern for the economic well-being. As a global partnership and joint responsibility can be found comprehensive solutions. "

The guidelines are formulated in Article 16: