by Ronald Eglin

The Earth Charter is a widely recognised global consensus statement on the challenge and vision of sustainable development, and the principles by which sustainable development can be achieved. A copy of the Charter and more information can be found on the Earth Charter website.

In South Africa, however, the Earth Charter is not widely known, possibly because at the time the Earth Charter was developed in late 1990s, South Africa, as an emerging democracy, was absorbed in its own internal development challenges.

The idea of a global Earth Charter, basically a new set of principles to guide the path towards a sustainable future, emerged at the first World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987. A draft United Nations Earth Charter was prepared for the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, but was not adopted. In 1994 global civil society took up the call for the Earth Charter and advocated for its adoption and a special Earth Charter Commission was established to take it forward.

After numerous drafts and input from thousands of people from around the world the Earth Charter was formally launched in late 2000. Since 2002, thousands of organisations and hundreds of cities around the world have subsequently endorsed the Earth Charter and pledged to work towards the realisation of the values and principles embedded in the Charter. Some national governments like Brazil have entered into agreements with NGOs in their countries to promote the Charter, and many municipalities around the world have formally committed themselves to its principles. These include the State of Queensland, Australia, the Republic of Tatarstan in the Russian Federation, and cities like Oslo (Norway), Munich (Germany), and Calgary (Canada).

The global challenges of climate change, species extension, desertification, increasing poverty, hunger, and fuel prices all highlight the inter-relationship of all of us in a globalised economy and society, and now more than ever we need to all work together, globally, towards a common goal. The Earth Charter provides such a tool. 

The Earth Charter International Council continues to campaign for the Charter to be endorsed by major global players and institutions, but it also wants people, from the ground-up, to contribute towards the goals of the Charter in whatever way they can. This could be by learning more about the Charter and what it means for you and/or your organisation; demonstrating in your life and the work of your organisation how you are a living example of the Earth Charter in action; raising awareness of the Earth Charter in your community and circle of influence; and working with others towards the Earth Charter goals. 

Time is not on our side; we need to urgently confront our global challenges and work together towards achieving the common vision as outlined in the Charter. Afesis-corplan has endorsed the Earth Charter; we call on you to do the same and work with us in finding ways to turn into reality the Earth Charter’s vision of a sustainable way of life founded on respect and care for the community of life; ecological integrity; universal human rights; respect for diversity; economic justice; democracy; and a culture of peace.

The Earth Charter

The Earth Charter preamble states that “we, the peoples of Earth, declare our responsibility to one another, to the greater community of life, and to future generations”. The Earth Charter recognises the social (eg increasing violence), economic (eg increasing poverty and widening inequality), and environmental (eg depletion of resources and species extension) challenges facing the world, but suggests that by working together these challenges can be overcome. “We must realise that when basic needs have been met, human development is primarily about being more, not having more. We have the knowledge and technology to provide for all and to reduce our impacts on the environment.”

The main section of the Earth Charter is made up of 60 principles which are categorised into 16 sections that are further categorised into four broad areas. The outline below gives examples of how these principles cascade down into the four broad categories.

I. RESPECT AND CARE FOR THE COMMUNITY OF LIFE
Build democratic societies that are just, participatory, sustainable, and peaceful.
Ensure that communities at all levels guarantee human rights and fundamental freedoms and provide everyone an opportunity to realise his or her full potential.

II. ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY
Adopt patterns of production, consumption, and reproduction that safeguard Earth’s regenerative capacities, human rights, and community wellbeing.
Act with restraint and efficiency when using energy, and rely increasingly on renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.

III. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE
Eradicate poverty as an ethical, social, and environmental imperative.
Guarantee the right to potable water, clean air, food security, uncontaminated soil, shelter, and safe sanitation, allocating the national and international resources required.

IV. DEMOCRACY, NON-VIOLENCE, AND PEACE
Strengthen democratic institutions at all levels, and provide transparency and accountability in governance, inclusive participation in decision making, and access to justice.
Support local, regional and global civil society, and promote the meaningful participation of all interested individuals and organisations in decision making.

Transformer Vol. 14 No. 5 Oct-Nov 2008