The idea of the Earth Charter originated in 1987 from the recommendations in “Our Common Future” document, when the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development called for a new charter to guide the transition to sustainable development. [1]
The drafting of the Earth Charter text was done during a six-year worldwide consultation process (1994-2000), overseen by the independent Earth Charter Commission, which was convened by Martin Strong and Mikhail Gorbachev with the purpose of developing a global consensus on values and principles for a sustainable future. It was approved at a meeting at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris in March 12-14, 2000, it contains a preamble, 16 main principles, sixty-one supporting principles, and a conclusion entitled “The Way Forward.” [5]
The document was justified as a “five year review of the implementation of Agenda 21 demonstrated, so far the world has failed to take the new course towards sustainable development.”
The Preamble affirms that “we are one human family and one Earth community with a common destiny,” and the Earth Charter encourages all people to recognize their shared responsibility, each according to his or her situation and capacity, for the well-being of the whole human family, the greater community of life, and future generations. [2, 3]
“The Earth Charter Commission member who presided over the unveiling just happened to be none other than Steven C. Rockefeller.” [4]