ANNUAL REPORT 2012 Earth Charter International Table of Contents Earth Charter International ANNUAL REPORT 2012 Foreword 4 I Introduction 6 II Governance structure of Earth Charter International – ECI 8 III Goals and Achievements of ECI 9 1. Network management, outreach efforts, social media and communication services 10 2. The Earth Charter Center for Education for Sustainable Development 19 3. RIO+20 23 IV Strategy and Challenges 27 V Plans for 2013 29 VI Walking the Talk 30 VII Finances 32 VIII The Earth Charter Initiative Examples of Activities of Affiliates and Partners 36 IX GRI Indicators 47 X Attachments A. Earth Charter International Council 50 B. List of ECI Affiliates 51 C. List of EC Youth and Student Groups 55 D. EC National websites 57 About this report Earth Charter International’s Annual Report is As part of Earth Charter International’s an overview of activities within the Secretariat commitment to environmental sustainability, and the wider Earth Charter Initiative globally ECI has offset its carbon emissions for the between January 1st and December third consecutive year. All emissions from 31st, 2012. The report contains information air travel will be compensated through the regarding Earth Charter International’s FONAFIFO (National Fund of Forest Financing) operations and finances, as well as its impacts mechanism, a Costa Rican government worldwide. The report also highlights several programme. activities and achievements from affiliates and other groups working with the Earth This report has been written and edited by Charter document around the world. Mirian Vilela, Douglas F. Williamson, Alicia Jimenez, and Nora Mahmoud. Photos This report is organized following the Global contributed by Ingrid Mårn, Ronald Zieger, Reporting Initiative’s G3 reporting indicators Douglas F. Williamson, and the wider Earth (see section IX). These indicators detail Earth Charter Initiative. Charter International’s performance in areas including Programme Effectiveness, Economic Performance, Environmental Performance, Labor Practices, and Society Performance. Earth Charter International ANNUAL REPORT 2012 3 Foreword Earth Charter International had a dynamic year of activities and initiatives, including the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustain- able Development, the ECI office and education center construction project, the establishment of a new UNESCO Chair, and preparing for a tions, two at the Rio Convention Center, where Education for Sustainable Development and new phase in 2013. the official United Nations Conference took place, the Earth Charter, jointly with the University During the first third of 2012, ECI focused two at the People’s Summit in the Flamengo for Peace, to develop research and training pro- significantly on preparations for Rio+20, or- area, and a special one-day event at the Nelson grams on ESD. ganizing a number of online fora with vari- Rodrigues Theater. In addition, ECI took part in The year also represented a lot of work for ous groups, developing position papers, and several other events with partner organizations the ECI Council, especially the three co-chairs launching a communication campaign featur- participating at the Rio+20 conference. who met numerous times over the year to set ing a professional TV Spot. Each of these efforts The construction of the new ECI Secretariat the new direction for ECI and its Education was an attempt to draw connections to the key offices and the Earth Charter Center for Edu- Center, and also to lead the process of reform- themes of Rio+20, to engage various groups on cation for Sustainable Development was com- ing its own council governance, which was an these issues, and to emphasize the importance pleted in April. The new Center represented the initial direction taken in previous years. The and continued relevance of the vision of strong inception of a new phase for the development Council resolved to reduce its size from 17 to 10 sustainability that the Earth Charter articulates. and delivering a series of courses and educa- members and, considering its rotation policy, it In June during the Rio+20, ECI organized, five tional services. Concurrently, ECI was granted was decided that the new ECI Council would be events in collaboration with partner organiza- the establishment of a new UNESCO Chair on re-formed with 50% of new members. Earth Charter International ANNUAL REPORT 2012 4 ECI would like to offer a special tribute to I invite you to read this report as it offers national sustainable development processes as a ECI Council co-chairs Brendan Mackey, Alide an overview of the many efforts undertaken to contributor and network facilitator. The horizon Roerink, and Razeena Omar for their profound promote the vision of sustainability and the vi- offers a view of both the opportunities and chal- dedication over the year. Deepest gratitude goes sionary work accomplished in 2012. These efforts lenges ahead for the Earth Charter Initiative. The to Brendan Mackey who ended his term as Coun- could not take place without our highly profes- Secretariat has continued to assist with the dis- cil member in January 2013 after acting as lead sional, committed, and dedicated staff, as well semination, use, and internalization of the Earth co-chair between 2011 and 2012, and before that as the contributions from partner organizations Charter worldwide with great success, and the serving the Earth Charter Initiative on a vol- and individuals that have embraced the Earth Initiative has shown remarkable creativity and unteer basis since early 1997 on numerous oc- Charter vision. The financial support of several energy towards those same goals. However, it is casions, from writing documents, to guiding key individuals and organizations represent an clear from 2012 that the world needs to embrace and helping to set strategies, policies and for immense help, without which this endeavor the Earth Charter vision more now than ever, representing ECI at meetings. The commitment would not be possible. and that the fulfillment of that vision remains and valuable support of the co-chairs over the 2013 marks the beginning of a new phase for the mission of the Earth Charter Initiative. years are sincerely appreciated and have been a Earth Charter International as we strengthen sustaining force to the ECI Secretariat and the our work in education and establish a new ECI Mirian Vilela Earth Charter Initiative. Council, while continuing to participate in inter- Executive Director Earth Charter International ANNUAL REPORT 2012 5 EC Advisors Comission I Introduction Affiliates Ambassadors ECI Council and Secretariat Partner EC Organizations Endorsers The Earth Charter Initiative is a global and Vision. It endeavors to promote the dis- Volunteers/ network of people, organizations, and in- semination, adoption, use, and implementation Task Forces stitutions that participate in promoting and of the Earth Charter and to support the growth Supporters implementing the values and principles of and development of the Earth Charter Initia- sustainability expressed in the Earth Char- tive. The ECI Council was created in 2006 as ter. Participants include leading international part of a major reorganization and expansion institutions, national governments, univer- of Earth Charter activities. sities, non-governmental organizations and Currently, there are EC Initiative projects community-based groups, city governments, and activities underway in over 80 countries. faith groups, schools, and businesses – as well Countries that are particularly active include as thousands of individuals. Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, Brazil, Costa Earth Charter International (ECI) consists Rica, India, Russia, Germany, The United States, of a Council and Secretariat. ECI’s purpose is Taiwan-China, Nigeria, Tajikistan, and the to advance the Earth Charter Initiative Mission United Kingdom. Earth Charter International ANNUAL REPORT 2012 6 Earth Charter International Alicia Jimenez, Mirian Vilela, and Alide Roerink of ECI signing agreement with GRI President Teresa Fogelberg. Mission Vision Statement To promote the transition to sustainable We envision individuals, organizations, ways of living and a global society businesses, governments, and founded on a shared ethical framework multilateral institutions throughout the that includes respect and care for the world, including the United Nations community of life, ecological integrity, General Assembly and UN agencies, universal human rights, respect for acknowledging the Earth Charter, diversity, economic justice, democracy, embracing its values and principles, and and a culture of peace. working collaboratively to build just, sustainable, and peaceful societies. Earth Charter International ANNUAL REPORT 2012 7 II Governance structure of Earth Charter International – ECI The Earth Charter International Council consultation with the global network of Earth ment. There are also a number of volunteers in provides leadership and guidance to the broader Charter supporters and typically meets once a different parts of the world constantly helping EC Initiative. However, it does not directly gov- year. Through 2012 the council also had the as- the efforts of the Secretariat. ern or control the Earth Charter Initiative as sistance of an Executive Committee, composed The ECI Secretariat operates in Costa Rica a whole. The Initiative is not governed in any of eight members, which met two to four times as a semi-autonomous center under the legal formal sense. The Council