Sustainable Development Principles

The principles included in this site contain elements which address the three major aspects of sustainable development (SD): environment, economy and community. Principles are linked to a full text, authorized version. To find the principles you want click on your choice of keyword, sector or provider. (see below).

Title	One earth community : a statement of ethical principles for environment and development
Sector	Civil society
Keyword	SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Citation	United Church of Canada General Council. "One Earth Community: A statement of ethical principles for environment and development." - p. 3-13. In One earth community. Ethical principles for environment and development: a statement of the 34th general council of the United Church of Canada August 1992 issued in response to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) Rio de Janeiro June 1992. Toronto, ON: United Church of Canada, 1992.
Provider	United Church of Canada
Principle Text	Booklets available ($1.50CND) from The United Church of Canada 3250 Bloor Street West Etobicoke, Ontario, M8X 2Y4 Canada e-mail: pbrooks@uccan.org ONE EARTH COMMUNITY A Statement of Ethical Principles for Environment and Development We believe that creation is a gift of God. We therefore endorse the following principles: 1. Human societies must bear a responsibility toward the Earth in its wholeness. 2. To be both people-oriented and ecologically-sound, all development strategies must be founded on a just international economic order, with priority for the world’s poor. 3. Lifestyles of high material consumption must yield to the provision of greater sufficiency for all. 4. Environmental destruction must stop and humanity must understand itself collectively responsible both for the destruction and for the repair thereof. 5. The rights of future generations must be protected. 6. The carrying capacity of the Earth, regionally and globally, must become a criterion in assessing economic development. 7. The bio-diversity of the Earth must be respected and protected. 8. Militarism must yield to non-violent approaches to conflict resolution. 9. Decision-making for just and ecologically-sound development must ensure the participation of individuals and groups, especially those most affected by the project. 10. Both opportunities for learning and access to knowledge must be assured in order to facilitate sustainable development. 11. Development decisions must emphasize prevention of ecological damage. 12. Procedures and mechanisms must be established ensuring a transnational approach to environmental issues and disputes. This statement of One Earth Community was prepared and adopted by The United Church of Canada in response to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, June 1992. It is based on an initial draft which arose out of an interfaith consultation hosted by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in August 1991. The original WCC document was revised by the United Church’s Division of Mission in Canada and Division of World Outreach in light of suggestions from partners in Canada and in developing countries. The 34th General Council of the United Church made further revisions and adopted it in this present form in August 1992. The 12 principles in bold print represent the policy adopted by the church. The rest of the statement provides context and elaboration for the principles. In adopting the statement, the United Church’s General Council invited individuals and congregations to study the principles to identify their implications for our lives as individuals, as churches, as communities and as a society, and to take action accordingly in order to pursue the dual goals of ecological well-being and economic justice.