Values and Principles to Foster a Sustainable Future

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Recognizing the need for new collaborative forms of governance, the Earth Charter states:
“A partnership of government, civil society, and business is essential for effective governance” (The Way Forward).

ECI has adopted a strategy for engaging businesses, which entails partnering with business leaders and building alliances with business related initiatives, such as the UN Global Compact and  the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).

During the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development, ECI and GRI signed a voluntary commitment under the conference framework to create a joint training program on sustainability reporting, deepening the participants' understanding on ethical principles for sustainability.

Business leaders should use the Earth Charter in their dialogues with civil society actors and other stakeholders.  Businesses that support the Earth Charter, but do not yet participate in GRI are encouraged to do so. The following document The Earth Charter, GRI and Global Compact was developed to help guide business groups.

Read the Guidance Paper to find out how the Earth Charter relates to other leading global initiatives such as the UN Global Compact and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). This paper is designed to help Earth Charter users and those using the GRI and Global Compact to understand the synergies and complementary strengths of these three initiatives. It explains how businesses can integrate the Earth Charter into the reporting processes organized by GRI and other similar efforts.  .

The Ethos Institute, a leading organization in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility in Latin America, decided to use the principles of the Earth Charter in their programs and tools.  Their materials are widely used and the Ethos Institute is recognized as an important hub for knowledge exchange and development of partnerships.  

Earth Charter International encourages all businesses to use the Earth Charter in one or more of the following ways:

  • Engage employees with the Earth Charter for the purpose of learning, training, and inspiration.
  • Assess the activities of the business in the light of Earth Charter values and principles, using the Global Reporting Initiative's Guidelines.
  • Incorporate Earth Charter values and principles in the business mission statement and its core operations with the goal of developing a more socially and ecologically responsible business.
ECI is developing resources for the Web site and encourages businesses to endorse the Earth Charter, make use of the resources, and take actions like these three above. 


See the following resource materials also available in the EC Virtual Library


Sample cases of businesses using the Earth Charter


Interview with Peter Head,
Consultant and Former Chairman of Global Planning, ARUP,
on Earth Charter and sustainability


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    Earth Charter US holds large sustainable business awards ceremony

    The business community in Tampa Bay, Florida came out in large numbers for the Earth Charter Sustainable Business Awards.

    Earth Charter Youth group of the month Synergy

    This month’s Earth Charter Youth Group of the Month goes to Synergy, an active youth group based in Dubai.

    Earth Charter Presentation at Lincoln Memorial University

    ECI intern Andras Pauko offered an Earth Charter presentation at Lincoln Memorial University (LMU).

    ‘Our Moving Borders’ Conference celebrates the 12.5 year anniversary of the Earth Charter

    The Erasmus University Rotterdam hosted a conference entitled ‘Our Moving Borders’ on December 17th, 2012 to celebrate the 12.5 year anniversary of the Earth Charter.

    Pictures of Success launched in London on the 23rd of October, 2012

    With striking images and lively quotes from over 80 companies and NGO partners Pictures of Success, based on the Earth Charter, shows positive business actions towards making the world a better place.

    Our moving Borders - Earth Charter dialogues in December in Rotterdam, Netherlands

    The first of a series of dialogues on the use of the Earth Charter in international development and cooperation.

    EC Assess workshop with AmCham

    The Earth Charter International Secretariat offered a workshop to present EC Assess to members of the Social Responsibility Committee of Am Cham, the Costa Rican – North American Chamber of Commerce.

    AES Brazil's Sustainability Platform with the EC

    AES Brasil launched its Sustainability Platform as an integral part of its new strategic vision.

    Earth Charter short report from Rio+20

    Highlights of the activities undertaken by the Earth Charter Initiative in Rio de Janeiro at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in June.

    Voluntary Commitment between ECI and GRI

    The Global Reporting Initiative and Earth Charter International have jointly submitted a voluntary commitment in the framework of the UNCSD Rio+20 Summit.
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    Free webinar with Cormac Cullinan and Peter Brown

    ECI is offering a free webinar on environmental law and global governance with experts Peter Brown and Cormac Cullinan, at 15:00hrs GMT/UTC

    Reminder: Law Programme and GEIG conference approaching

    The Earth Charter Center for ESD’s Law course is accepting applicants and GEIG’s conference  programme is now available.

    UNESCO and post-2015 Education for Sustainable Development

    UNESCO invites participation in a consultation and ECI is participating in ongoing dialogues.

    UNESCO Director-General visits Earth Charter Center at UPEACE

    Irina Bokova visited the University for Peace and the Earth Charter Center for Education for Sustainable Development

    Caring for the Earth with Leonardo Boff

    Leonardo Boff visited the Earth Charter Center for ESD on April 4th, 2013.

    Celebrating International Earth Day with Severn Cullis-Suzuki

    Earth Charter International hosted Severn Cullis-Suzuki for two Earth Day events.

    Earth Charter affiliate in Germany holds inspirational annual event

    The Ecumenical One World Initiative holds its annual Earth Charter event and focuses on inter-religious dialogue with EC Commissioner Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp.

    Earth Charter US holds large sustainable business awards ceremony

    The business community in Tampa Bay, Florida came out in large numbers for the Earth Charter Sustainable Business Awards.

    Earth Week at the Municipality of Heredia, Costa Rica

    In celebration of Earth Day, Earth Charter International was invited to participate in the municipality of Heredia's "Earth Week" activities.

    Earth Day celebration in Assam, India

    CEE India celebrated Earth Day 2013 with several activities, among them an Earth Charter Think Café.

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