First International Forum for the Rights of Mother Earth
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What Are the Sustainable Development Goals?
MODULE 1: What are the Sustainable Development Goals? Youth Workers 4 Global Goals CAPACITY BUILDING IN THE FIELD OF YOUTH This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Module 1: What are the Sustainable Development Goals? Introduction ................................................................................................................ 2 I. What is Sustainable Development?.……………….…………….……………….....………………….3 Sustainability ............................................................................................................... 3 Development……………………………………………………………………………………………………….…..6 Sustainable development . ........................................................................................... 8 II. What are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? ......................................... 13 The Millennium Development Goals .......................................................................... 13 The Sustainable Development Goals ......................................................................... 15 1 INTRODUCTION In September 2015, the leaders of all 193 member states of the UN adopted Agenda 2030, a universal agenda that contains the Global Goals for Sustainable Development. The 17 Goals in turn hold 169 targets and 230 indicators. The Global Goals is the most ambitious agreement for sustainable development -
The Time to Act Is
The Time to Act is Now Grassroots Multi-Faith Action for the Earth Introduction Religious communities are at a crossroads with our response to climate change and other imminent threats to the environment. For much of the past 15 years, religious communities’ primary focus has been education and awareness raising on climate change, teaching that our faiths and their central teachings apply not only between people and to the Sacred, but person to planet. That education, while still vital, is not enough. We must take bold public action. We’ve seen the magnitude of the crisis. We know that public action at scale is absolutely essential. On 11 March, 2021, diverse religious and spiritual communities in 49 countries carried out 420 actions to draw attention to the climate crisis. The Sacred People, Sacred Earth day of action was organized by a grassroots, global, multi-faith alliance called the GreenFaith International Network. You can experience the energy and passion of these actions by watching this short video on Sacred People, Sacred Earth. Around Earth Day in April and World Environment Day in June, religious and spiritual leaders around the world often offer a sermon, khutbah, dharma teaching, dvar torah, or other spoken message on the climate crisis. The religious or spiritual gatherings around these days, and every gathering of its kind, offers an opportunity to convey how our different faiths compel us to take bold action on climate change. The actions organized by grassroots people of diverse faiths worldwide, a few of which are featured in this document, offer powerful instructional examples of religious belief in action, examples which can help pastors, imams, gurus, priests, rabbis, and other spiritual leaders bring to life the importance of public, morally-rooted action on climate change. -
The Policy Relevance of the Earth Charter for Europe
E A R T H C H A R T E R I N T E R N A T I O N A L The Policy Relevance of the Earth Charter for Europe A Paper Prepared for the Maastricht Forum on the Future of Europe 9-11 May 2007, Maastricht University The Netherlands by Johannah Bernstein Earth Charter International Center for Strategy and Communication Stockholm, Sweden NOTE: This paper reflects the views of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of Earth Charter International. The development and publication of this paper were supported by NCDO (the Netherlands Committee for Sustainable Development and International Cooperation) and Socires. a Dutch policy institute. 1 The Policy Relevance of the Earth Charter for Europe By Johannah Bernstein 1 Introduction ________________________________________________________________________ The first decade of the 21st century marks a period of profound and rapid transformation for European integration as Europe grows quickly in number and scope. These factors are enormous challenges for Europe as it strives to realise its potential beyond economic cooperation (Baykal 2004). At the same time, as other chapters in this book assert, Europe’s political role and impact on the global stage is in need of revitalization. There can be no doubt that the globalized and complex world against which Europe defines itself does not require a new hegemon. Instead, what is needed is a Union that is grounded in an ethos of multilateral cooperation and collaboration and which asserts a strong global partnership role to ensure that the benefits of globalization are spread fairly around the world. -
Sustainability/Environment/Clean Energy Awareness & Event Dates
Sustainability/Environment/Clean Energy Awareness & Event Dates: January January 1st: New Year’s Day– Resolve to find new ways to become more eco-friendly! February • February 2nd: World Wetlands Day • February 20th: World Day of Social Justice • February 27th: World Polar Bear Day March • March 3rd: World Wildlife Day • March 8th: International Women’s Day • March 14th: International Day of Action for Rivers • March 18th: Global Recycling Day • March 21st: International Day of Forests • March 22nd: World Water Day • March 23rd: World Meteorological Day (Climate change) • Late March: Earth Hour April • First full week of April: Arbor Day • April 22nd: Earth Day • Last Saturday of April: Save the Frogs Day May • All month: National Bike Month • Bike to Work Week 2021 May 17-23, 2021 Bike to Work Day May 21! • Bike to Work Day • 2nd week of month: International Compost Awareness week Composting Awareness • Second Week in May: Endangered Species Day June • June 5th: World Environment Day • June 8th: World Oceans Day • First Saturday of June: National Trails Day • June 17th: World Day to combat Desertification and Drought • June 22nd: World Rainforest Day July • All Month: Plastic Free July August • August 12th: International Youth Day September • Third weekend in September: Clean up the World Campaign • September 21st: Zero Emissions Day • September 22nd: Car Free Day • September 26th: World Environmental Health Day • Fourth Sunday of September: World Rivers Day • Last week in September: National Clean Energy Week October • All Month: Energy Awareness Month • All Month: Campus Sustainability Month • October 5th: Energy Efficiency Day • October 16th: World Food Day • October 24th: International Day of Climate Action November • November 15th: America Recycles Day • November 17th: Take a Hike Day • After Thanksgiving: Buy Nothing Day December • December 5th: International Volunteers Day and World Soil Day . -
Brazil Will Host of the Global Celebrations of World Environment
Brazil will Host of the Global Brazil, China and the United States, recycling in all its forms, already employed twelve million people. Celebrations of World Environment Day Brazil is also a leader in the sustainable production of ethanol as a fuel for vehicles and is expanding into other The United Nations forms of renewable energy like wind and solar. Recently, Environment Programme the construction of 500 thousand new homes with solar (UNEP) announced today panel installations in Brazil has generated 300 thousand that Brazil, who owns one new jobs. of the fastest growing "We are delighted to host the global celebrations for the economies in the world, environment. The World Environment Day in Brazil will will host the global be a great opportunity to present the environmental celebrations of World Environment Day (WED) , aspects of Sustainable Development in the weeks leading celebrated annually on June 5. up to Rio +20 Conferences," said the Minister of the This year's theme, " Green Economy: It includes you?" environment of Brazil, Izabella Teixeira. invites the world to assess where the "Green Economy" "The history of Brazil, with its complex dynamics and is the day to day life of each one and estimate if the diverse economy, its wealth of natural resources and its development, by the Green Economy way, covers the current role in international relations, offers a unique social, economic and environment needs in a world with perspective through which a large and result transformer 7 billion people, which expected to reach 9 billion 2050. will become possible in the Rio +20 "added Mr. -
Press Release – Tsogo Sun – 05/06/2018
Press Release – Tsogo Sun – 05/06/2018 World Environment Day with Miss Earth and Tsogo Sun As the world observes World Environment Day celebrations, with India playing the host country for 2018, the Miss Earth South Africa Leadership programme alongside strategic partners such as Tsogo Sun are recommitting their focus and work on the importance of their campaign #WasteStopsWithME While plastic has many valuable uses, humanity has become addicted to single-use or disposable plastic — with severe environmental consequences. In light of the staggering statistics, people are relooking at plastic use. Around the world, one million plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute, while up to 5 trillion single-use plastic bags are used worldwide every year. In total, half of all plastic produced is designed to be used only once — and then thrown away. Plastic waste is now so ubiquitous in the natural environment that scientists have even suggested it could serve as a geological indicator of the Anthropocene era says United Nations Environment. Over the past three years the Miss Earth South Africa Leadership programme has been hard at work at a grass-roots level in communities across the country with a firm focus on the individual responsibility and role that is played by citizens, rethinking plastic consumption, re-addressing the use of single-use plastic and firmly focussing on banning the use of straws, by highlighting and creating much needed awareness of the long-term effects that these have on the environment, our oceans, water bodies and marine life. Pollution, plastic and litter are all part of the same conversation and while the organisation and their partners have been a well-established environmental advocacy platform, there is no doubt that climate leaders from these ranks have become thought leaders within this space. -
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 5 June 2021
STATEMENT INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LAW ORGANIZATION STATEMENT BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL, MS JAN BEAGLE WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 5 June 2021 On the 5th of June 1972 – the day now annually celebrated as ‘World Environment Day’ – leaders convened for the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, the first major global conference on international environmental issues. That day, almost 50 years ago, also marked a major milestone in the development of international environmental law: the Conference’s outcome document, the Stockholm Declaration, was the first international agreement to acknowledge the intrinsic connection between ecological management, economic development, and human well-being. Since then, we have observed the development of many international legal instruments related to the environment, and an overall increased awareness of states and civil society of the disastrous effects of deforestation, biodiversity loss, and global warming. Nevertheless, our environment is in greater peril than before, and the significance of this day has only grown. Since 1970, global warming has accelerated at an increasing rate. Biodiversity is under threat, as nearly one million species are threatened with extinction within decades. And the growing frequency and severity of natural disasters have put state capacity under greater strain and human lives at greater risk. While ecological degradation, pollution, and climate change affect us all, it disproportionately affects people living in conditions of vulnerability and marginalization, particularly women and youth, and those living in lower-income countries and fragile states, who have contributed the least to climate change. This impact is also distributed unequally across time, as future generations will cope with the consequences of present-day choices. -
Study Guide for the Rights of Nature Proposal Prepared by Rev
Study Guide for The Rights of Nature Proposal Prepared by Rev. Dr. Bob Shore-Goss [email protected] "We are talking only to ourselves. We are not talking to the rivers, we are not listening to the wind and stars. We have broken the great conversation. By breaking that conversation we have shattered the universe. All the disasters that are happening now are a consequence of that spiritual 'autism.'" ~ Thomas Berry Summary: Pope Francis claims, “A true ‘right of the environment’ does exist.” There has been an international movement for the Rights of Nature in the last several decades. For the proposal before you, this serves as a brief study guide of the background. The proposal attempts to link the UCC with this movement that includes environmentalists, environmental Christian ethicists, indigenous peoples worldwide, international organizations that produced the Earth Charter, the Charter of Compassion, and the Parliament of World Religions. No Christian denomination (no world religion, outside indigenous spiritualities) have adopted a statement of faith and prophetic witness that explicitly claims Rights for Nature. There have lists of such rights by Stillheart Declaration and individual Christian ethicists. That is the last section of this study guide. Individual Christian liberation theologians such as the Brazilian Leonardo Boff, Sallie McFague, Thomas Berry, and others have recognize our human responsibility to notion of distributive justice (a fair share of Earth resources and goods for humanity, the more than human life, and bio-regions, and the Earth herself) to nature, living in a wholesome environment, eating well, enjoying a living space, sharing equitably and co-living with Nature, and ultimately respecting the intimate connection of human and the Earth community of life. -
FOOD, FARMING and the EARTH CHARTER by Dieter T. Hessel in A
FOOD, FARMING AND THE EARTH CHARTER By Dieter T. Hessel In a rapidly warming world with drastically changing climate, chronic social turmoil, and growing populations at risk from obesity and hunger, it is crucially important to evaluate the quality and quantity of what people are eating or can’t, as well as how and where their food is produced. At stake in this evaluation is the well-being of humans, animals, and eco-systems, or the near future of earth community! Food production and consumption are basic aspects of every society’s way of life, and sustainable living is the ethical focus of the Earth Charter, a global ethic for persons, institutions and governments issued in 2000.1 The Preamble to the Earth Charter’s Preamble warns us that “The dominant patterns of production and consumption are causing environmental devastation, the depletion of resources, and a massive extinction of species. Communities are being undermined. The benefits of development are not shared equitably and the gap between rich and poor is widening,” a reality that is now quite evident in the food and farming sector. Therefore, this brief essay begins to explore what the vision and values articulated in the Charter’s preamble and 16 ethical principles offer as moral guidance for humane and sustainable food systems. The prevailing forms of agriculture are increasingly understood to be problematic. Corporations and governments of the rich, “developed” societies have generated a globalized food system dominated by industrial agriculture or factory farming that exploits land, animals, farmers, workers consumers, and poor communities while it bestows handsome profits on shippers, processors, packagers, and suppliers of “inputs” such as machinery, fuel, pesticides, seeds, feed. -
Conservation of Biodiversity Through Environment Awareness
Conservation of Biodiversity through Environment awareness Biodiversity is the variety of different types of life found on the Earth. Our planet is now in the middle of the sixth mass extinction of species, the worst since the loss of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Earth’s Environment and Climate is undergoing drastic changes recently all driven by unsustainable development activities and natural resources are getting depleted. Scientists estimate we’re now losing species at 1,000 to 10,000 times the background rate, with as many as 30 to 50 percent of all species possibly heading toward extinction by mid- century. Sadly 99 percent of currently threatened species are at risk from human activities. Trends in vertebrate species populations, shows a decline of 52 per cent between 1970 and 2010. Habitat loss and degradation, Climate change and forest fragmentation all driven by human developmental activities are the primary causes of decline. Many of the Earth’s ecosystems are at critical points of depletion or irreversible change. It is estimated that by 2050, if current consumption and production patterns remain the same and with a rising population expected to reach 9.6 billion, we will need three planets to sustain our ways of living and consumption. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international agreement adopted at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and signed by 193 governments including India. It covers the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity. In 2010, governments gathered in Japan at the 10th Conference of the Parties to CBD and set a new strategy to save nature. -
The Earth Charter
THE www.EarthCharter.org EArtH CHArter A declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society in the 21st century Preamble I. Respect and Care for the Community of Life II. Ecological Integrity III. Social and Economic Justice IV. Democracy, Nonviolence, and Peace The Way Forward EARTH CHARTER INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL 1 The Earth Charter Council Co-Chairs Steven Rockefeller (United States) is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, Razeena Wagiet (South Africa) sustainable, and peaceful global society in the 21st century. Erna Witoelar (Indonesia) It seeks to inspire in all peoples a new sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility for the wellbeing of the human family and the larger Council Members Zainab Bangura (Sierra Leone) living world. It is an expression of hope and a call to help create a global Mateo Castillo (Mexico) partnership at a critical juncture in history. Rick Clugston (USA) Marianella Curi (Bolivia) Camila Argolo Godinho^ (Brazil) The Earth Charter’s inclusive ethical vision recognizes that environmental Wakako Hironaka (Japan) protection, human rights, equitable human development, and peace are Li Lailai (Peoples Republic of China) interdependent and indivisible. It provides a framework for thinking about, Song Li (People’s Republic of China / USA) talking about, and taking action on these issues. The Charter offers a fresh, Alexander Likhotal+, (Russia / Switzerland) Ruud Lubbers (Netherlands) broad conception of what constitutes sustainable living and sustainable Brendan Mackey (Australia) development. Julia Marton-Lefèvre (Hungary / Costa Rica) Elizabeth May (Canada) Oscar Motomura (Brazil) Shared Global Values … for Our Common Future Dumisani Nyoni^ (Zimbabwe) Henriette Rasmussen (Greenland) At a time when major changes in how we think and live are urgently needed, Mohamed Sahnoun (Algeria) the Earth Charter challenges us to examine our values and to choose a better Kartikeya Sarabhai (India) way. -
Full Text.Pdf (141.2Kb)
Peter Blaze Corcoran, USA. Introduction Making the World One Peter Blaze Corcoran is Professor of Environ- t has been a generation since the World Commission on Envi- mental Studies and Environmental Education at I ronment and Development famously introduced the concept Florida Gulf Coast University, where he serves as of an integration of environment and development that is sus- Director of the Center for Environmental and tainable, “to ensure that it meets the needs of the present with- Sustainability Education. He has held academic out compromising the ability of future generations to meet their posts at College of the Atlantic, Swarthmore own needs.”1 This concept, both brilliant and problematic, has College, and Bates College in the States. He has framed a great debate of the turn of the millennium. How, and if, also been a visiting professor in Australia and The Netherlands. He we will find a path to sustainability has become the most impor- works extensively in international environmental education with tant narrative of our time. special interest in the South Pacific Island Nations. He is among the founders of the Global Higher Education for Sustainability Partnership What kind of world we will leave for the young, and what values and has recently conducted their consultations with stakeholders in will we transfer to them have become epic questions. The tragic tertiary education in many regions of the world. He is Past President of truth pointed out by the Brundtland Commission is well-known North American Association for Environmental Education. He serves but often ignored. as Senior Fellow in Education for Sustainability at University Leaders for a Sustainable Future in Washington, DC, and is Senior Advisor to We borrow environmental capital from future generations the Earth Charter Initiative in San Jose, Costa Rica.