THE EARTH CHARTER CITIES MANIFESTO THE EARTH CHARTER PREAMBLE We stand at a critical moment in Earth’s history, a time when humanity must choose its future. As the world becomes increasingly interdependent and fragile, the future at once holds great peril and great promise. To move forward, we must recognize that in the midst of a magnificent diversity of cultures and life forms we are one human family and one Earth community with a common destiny. We must join together to bring forth a sustainable global society founded on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice, and a culture of peace. Towards this end, it is imperative that we, the peoples of Earth, declare our responsibility to one another, to the greater community of life, and to future generations. Earth, Our Home Humanity is part of a vast evolving universe. Earth, our home, is alive with a unique community of life. The forces of nature make existence a demanding and uncertain adventure, but Earth has provided the conditions essential to life’s evolution. The resilience of the community of life and the well-being of humanity depend upon preserving a healthy biosphere with all its ecological systems, a rich variety of plants and animals, fertile soils, pure waters, and clean air. The global environment with its finite resources is a common concern of all peoples. The protection of Earth’s vitality, diversity, and beauty is a sacred trust. - Excerpt from the Earth Charter (2000) 2 CITIES AS ENGINES OF THE ECONOMY In this document we refer to Earth Charter Cities as cities of any size whose governing institutions have adopted the Earth Charter and are putting it into practice in a coherent way. Cities are important engines of our world. Most of the resilience and the production and consumption that characterize our society at large, impose well-being of the human community of life is delivered by cities.More and a burden on our biosphere. Resources are being depleted, the environment more people live in cities. At the moment, cities host over 50% of the destroyed, species are becoming extinct and communities of people in world’s population. It is expected that by 2025 over 75% will live in an their own habitat undermined. Ecological systems, biodiversity, fertile soil, urban environment. Growth in Africa and Asia as well as the formation of clean water and unpolluted air show signs of scarcity. They are not only the mega-cities seize our attention, but the largest share of the growth will source of our life, but also a source of concern. Whereas cities increasingly take place in smaller towns and villages. become the engines of the economy, we must ensure they are highly efficient. The harmful effects of our economic activities and the ecological Cities are full of opportunities, but they also present many problems. Rapid and social implications need to be assessed and managed with higher urbanization often poses a threat to the environment, human health, and proficiency. In many cases the benefits are not fairly distributed. Injustice fair distribution of resources and funds. Excessive growth of cities may and poverty cause suffering and conflict. hinder urban productivity and efficiency. The dynamics of our enormous economy, driven by our total population and the dominant patterns of - Gerben van Straaten, CEO & Founder World of Waläs (2009) 3 EARTH CHARTER CITIES TO THE CHALLENGE Earth Charter Cities choose to accept the guidance of the Earth Charter. Earth Charter Cities choose to accept the guidance of the Earth Charter. Earth Charter Cities ensure valuable and sustainable (re) development. The Earth Charter Cities ensure valuable and sustainable (re) development. The Earth Charter City makes the choice to be an important part of a global Earth Charter City makes the choice to be an important part of a global partnership to care for the Earth and for the whole community of life. We partnership to care for the Earth and for the whole community of life. We are sensitive to perils and weaknesses in our system and we are ready to are sensitive to perils and weaknesses in our system and we are ready to bring substantial changes into our values, institutions and our ways of life. bring substantial changes into our values, institutions and our ways of life. The Earth Charter City focuses on quality, engaging exactly those values The Earth Charter City focuses on quality, engaging exactly those values that allow us as humans and as a society to be more, instead of to have that allow us as humans and as a society to be more, instead of to have more. Policy makers especially must be aware that their local decisions more. Policy makers especially must be aware that their local decisions have far-reaching effects on others, on nature and on the climate. have far-reaching effects on others, on nature and on the climate. Simultaneously, changes in climate, the environment and ecosystems Simultaneously, changes in climate, the environment and ecosystems have have a large impact on the local situation in and around cities. a large impact on the local situation in and around cities. We urgently need to share a vision of basic values to provide an ethical We urgently need to share a vision of basic values to provide an ethical foundation for the growing global community. All Earth Charter Cities foundation for the growing global community. All Earth Charter Cities together contribute to a global partnership with the world community, together contribute to a global partnership with the world community, with the Earth, with nature and with our future generations. An individual with the Earth, with nature and with our future generations. An individual Earth Charter City has a partnership with its ecology, the urban community, Earth Charter City has a partnership with its ecology, the urban community, and the people and nature in its immediate (peri-urban) environment. and the people and nature in its immediate (peri-urban) environment. 4 EARTH CHARTER CITIES IN ACTION Inspired by and strongly associated with the Earth Charter, Earth Charter Cities want to deliver a significant contribution to a sustainable future. The Earth Charter Cities concept becomes manifest through 16 different principles, accessible and useful to all citizens and urban organizations, businesses, communities, governments and institutions to inspire and to guide them towards a new future. The principles will be developed progressively into a more actionable support of this objective. The development and enhancement of accessible knowledge and the incorporation of best practices will be shared with any interested knowledge institution or individual. 5 CITIES ARE NOT HELPLESS BUT VITAL, HELPFUL AND RESOURCEFUL. “Whenever and wherever societies flourished and prospered rather than stagnated and decayed, creative and workable cities have been at the core of the phenomenon... Decaying cities, declining economies, and mounting social troubles travel together. The combination is not coincidental.” - Jane Jacobs Unprecedented increases in world population and rapid urbanization have The first phases of rapid urbanization led to illnesses and epidemics of overburdened our ecological and social systems. Cities are vibrant melting unprecedented magnitude. These cities were then forced to find the pots where all challenges we face as the community of the human world as solutions. Hygiene, medical care, improved construction techniques, clean well as the community of life on Earth become manifest. Our global health drinking water and sewer systems are examples of urban innovations that and safety are threatened. These trends are perilous - but not inevitable. have improved welfare and prosperity. Similarly, under the pressure of the Cities particularly can have healing effects. Under the right conditions, current global situation, cities have the ability to make the necessary cities have an organic resilience full of knowledge, creativity and innovations and improvements. Cities can lead us to new prosperity. In innovation. Whereas cities represent the major drawbacks of our order to achieve this, we must recognize the urgency to change our ways current society, they also have the capacity to develop the strong and be prepared to make better choices. It is necessary that we deploy a points for the future. This is not new. robust set of social, cultural, ecological and economic values by using the Earth Charter Initiative as our guidance. 6 I. THE EARTH CHARTER CITY CONTRIBUTES CAREFULLY AND ACTIVELY TO THE RESPECT AND THE CARE FOR ALL LIFE FORMS 1. c. The Earth Charter City is aware of its fundamental position on the Earth Charter Cities are stable havens where freedom and the development Earth. It develops and maintains itself with respect for the Earth and and exchange of knowledge flourish. Cities and their institutions represent life in all its diversity. power and means of authority. The Earth Charter City recognizes this and shows utter responsibility within this framework of increased freedom, a. knowledge and power to promote the common good. The Earth Charter City recognizes that all beings are interdependent and every form of life, each society and each culture has value, regardless of its 3. value for humans in their city. The Earth Charter City builds a democratic and just society that is sustainable, and peaceful, in which anyone can participate with b. influence. The Earth Charter City contributes strongly to the intellectual, artistic, ethical and spiritual potential of humanity and respects the intrinsic dignity a. of all people. The Earth Charter City ensures that its communities at all levels will safeguard human rights and fundamental freedoms and provide 2. opportunities for everyone to live up to his or her full potential. The Earth Charter City cares for all life forms with understanding and shows compassion and love. b.