About The Earth Charter
The Earth Charter is an international proclamation of fundamental ethical principles for creating a fair, sustainable, and conflict-free global society. It seeks to prompt a newfound understanding of global interdependence and shared responsibility for the well-being of all humans, present, and future.
The Earth Charter (EC) is a document with sixteen principles categorized under four pillars: Respect and Care for the Community of Life, Ecological Integrity, Social and Economic Justice, and Democracy, Nonviolence, and Peace. This movement offers many solutions and allows for a more hands-on approach. The basic premise of the Earth Charter is that once you actively begin to employ all of these principles, you can help the Earth flourish.
In 1987 the Earth Charter was created when the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development issued the creation of a new charter focused on developing fundamental principles for sustainable development. The drafting of the EC was left unfinished during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit but was later completed and launched in June of 2000.
The Earth Charter Movement/ Initiative is a diverse and global network that actively participates in encouraging and enforcing the core principles of the Earth Charter. Participants include international institutions, national governments, universities, NGOs and community-based organizations, businesses, and thousands of individuals.
This charter plays an essential role in conservation by challenging the world to analyze our current values and priorities.
It urges us to search for an equitable and just solution to common conservation issues with an emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and ethics. There are a plethora of ways individuals and organizations can use the EC and implement its values into their lives. The EC can be used as a call to action for a sustainable way of life meant to encourage a commitment to change. It can also be used as motivation for internal reflection on basic philosophies and morals.
Main Goals of the Earth Charter
- “To raise awareness worldwide of the Earth Charter and to promote understanding of its inclusive ethical vision.
- To seek recognition and endorsement of the Earth Charter by individuals, organizations, and the United Nations.
- To promote the use of the Earth Charter as an ethical guide and the implementation of its principles by civil society, business, and government.
- To encourage and support the educational use of the Earth Charter in schools, universities, religious communities, local communities, and many other settings.
- To promote recognition and use of the Earth Charter as a soft law document.”
The Earth Charter was established in the United States in 1996 when the Center for Respect of Life and Environment (CRLE) arranged a summit to raise awareness and support for the Earth Charter consultation process in the US. Many leaders in conservation participated in this event organized by the head of the CRLE, Rick Clugston. In 1999, Earth Charter USA was established, and a campaign to include NGOs, universities, and other groups in the drafting process of the charter commenced. In 1999, the Earth Charter Local Community (ECLC) was formed with the purpose of engaging local community leaders and members. An ECLC committee was formed to organize and connect community summits in multiple cities and towns connected by satellite. The first summit was held in 2001, and these efforts have continued to this day.
OneNature recognizes the importance of the Earth Charter, especially during the unprecedented and challenging period we have been facing in recent years. Focusing on equity and respect for all is crucial for a sustainable and just present and future.