Declarations for Sustainable Development: the Response of Universities

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...How have the university leaders considered the issue of environmental protection and its next evolutionary stage, sustainable development, up until now? Let us review [the] milestones...

- David Johnston, President, McGill University (Quinquennial Conference, 7 February, 1995, New Delhi, India.)

Talloires Declaration

In October 1990 twenty university presidents, rectors and vice chancellors of universities from all regions of the world publicized their concerns about the unprecedented scale and speed of environmental pollution and degradation, and the depletion of natural resources. These environmental changes they said threaten the survival of humans and thousands of other living species, the integrity of the earth and its biodiversity, the security of nations, and the heritage of future generations. The Talloires Declaration, as it is called from the Tufts University European campus in Talloires, France, then stated in the simplest and starkest of terms: We believe that urgent actions are needed to address these fundamental problems and reverse the trends. [D. Johnston]

[Declarations for ... | The Talloires Declarations (full document)]

The Halifax Declaration

One year later, in December 1991 at Halifax (Canada)... senior representatives of the IAU, the United Nations University, and the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada joined by 20 university presidents from various parts of the world, eg, Brazil, Indonesia, Zimbabwe added their voice. The Halifax Declaration expressed dismay about the continuing widespread degradation of the earth's environment, and the pervasive influence of poverty on the process, and about the unsustainable environmental practices now so widespread. [D. Johnston]

[Declarations for ... | The Halifax Declaration (full document)]

ACU -- The Swansea Declaration

In August 1993 at the conclusion of the Association of Commonwealth Universities Fifteenth Quinquennial Conference in Swansea, Wales, the increasing sense of urgency among university leaders broke through the barriers of competing claims for concern. Participants drawn from over 400 universities in 47 different countries focused on the topic of People and the Environment -- Preserving the Balance. Their quest? To find ways by which the universities of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, their leaders, scholars and students might engage and deploy their unique common traditions ... to respond appropriately to this challenge. [D. Johnston]

[Declarations for ... | ACU -- The Swansea Declaration (full document)]

The Kyoto Declaration

Fourthly, in November 1993 the IAU in its 8th Round Table meeting in Japan issued a clarion call to its 650 university members in the Kyoto Declaration. [D. Johnston]

[Declarations for ... | The Kyoto Declaration (full document)]

CRE Copernicus Charter

The University Charter for Sustainable Development is an instrument created by Copernicus, an inter-university co-operation programme on the environment, established by the Association of European Universities (CRE). The Charter expresses a collective commitment on behalf of a large number of universities. It represents an effort to mobilize the resources of institutions of higher education to further concept and objective or sustainable development. The Charter was introduced and presented to the CRE bi-annual conference in Barcelona, in the autumn of 1993. Two years later, the document has been endorsed by the personal signature of the rectors of no less than 213 universities in Europe.

[Declarations for ... | CRE Copernicus Charter (full document)]

Student Declaration for a Sustainable Future

CEED a student run Community Environmental Educational Development organization held a conference between July 3-5, 1995 to produce a national environmental declaration for students. There were approximately 90 delegates comprising of students from the Higher and Further Education institutions, academic and service staff and Student Union officers, geographically spread from Southampton to Stirling, Liverpool to Norwich.

[Declarations for ... ]

Earth Summit Agreements

...Education [should achieve] ethical awareness and [promote] behaviour consistent with the sustainable use of natural resources and sustainable development. To be effective, it should deal with the dynamics of the physical/biological environment and human development, be integrated in all disciplines, and employ all formal and non-formal methods and adequate means of communication. ...[From Report of the Secretary General of UNCED; A/Conf.151/PC/100/Add.6,p.2,4/16 Jan.1992]

At the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, June 1992, governments from around the world agreed to Agenda 21. This workplan identifies what needs to be done by all of us to achieve sustainable development in the 21st century.

The Global Forum was an international gathering of NGOs held in conjunction with the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio. A number of alternative treaties were agreed to by participants at the Global Forum, reflecting the commitment of civil society to environmental, economic and social issues.

  • Treaty on Environmental Education for Sustainable Societies and Global Responsibility