Earth Charter Initiative

Description

The Earth Charter Initiative is a global network promoting an ethical framework for a just, sustainable and peaceful world.

It is built around the Earth Charter, a document of sixteen principles produced through a decade-long, worldwide, cross-cultural dialogue on shared values. The charter rests on four pillars: respect and care for the community of life, ecological integrity, social and economic justice, and democracy, nonviolence and peace. Participants in the movement include international institutions, government agencies, universities, NGOs, cities, faith groups and individuals from 90 countries.

The Initiative works to raise awareness of the Earth Charter, seek its endorsement by organizations and the United Nations, and promote its use as an ethical guide for civil society, business and government. It supports educational use of the charter in schools, universities, religious and local communities, and runs training programs to help it take hold in different sectors. It also translates the charter into major world languages and helps set up national Earth Charter networks.

The Initiative includes a youth program, a network of young activists and youth NGOs interested in sustainable development. It is coordinated by Earth Charter International, whose small secretariat is based at the University for Peace campus in San Jose, Costa Rica, with a council that meets yearly to provide strategic guidance.