What is the Earth Charter?

The Earth Charter is an international declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable and peaceful global society in the 21st century. The drafting of the Earth Charter was part of the unfinished business of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Completed in March 2000, the Earth Charter 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 starting to be used as an educational tool in schools, universities, faith communities, and many other settings around the world. It offers an eloquent and comprehensive definition of sustainable development and is useful for understanding the critical choices facing humanity and the urgent need for commitment to a sustainable way of life. The history of the Earth Charter provides a compelling story involving the most open and participatory consultation process ever conducted in connection with an international document.

For more information on the international Earth Charter Initiative, go to www.earthcharter.org.

Endorsement

Numerous organizations have already endorsed the Earth Charter, officially embracing the spirit and aims of the document. Those organizations include Green Cross International, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, Sierra Club and the National Wildlife Federation. ULSF is working with a small number of colleges and universities interested in endorsing the Earth Charter.