THE EARTH

CHARTER

LA CARTA DE LA TIERRA
Preámbulo Preamble
Estamos en un momento crítico de la We stand at a critical
historia de la Tierra, en el cual la moment in Earth's
humanidad debe elegir su futuro. A history, a time when
medida que el mundo se vuelve cada vez humanity must choose
más interdependiente y frágil, el futuro its future. As the world
depara, a la vez, grandes riesgos y becomes increasingly
grandes promesas. Para seguir adelante, interdependent and
debemos reconocer que en medio de la fragile, the future at
magnífica diversidad de culturas y formas once holds great peril
de vida, somos una sola familia humana yand great promise. To
una sola comunidad terrestre con un move forward we must
destino común. Debemos unirnos para recognize that in the
crear una sociedad global sostenible midst of a magnificent
fundada en el respeto hacia la naturaleza, diversity of cultures and
los derechos humanos universales, la life forms we are one
justicia económica y una cultura de paz. human family and one
En torno a este fin, es imperativo que Earth community with a
nosotros, los pueblos de la Tierra, common destiny. We
declaremos nuestra responsabilidad unos must join together to
hacia otros, hacia la gran comunidad de bring forth a
la vida y hacia las generaciones futuras. sustainable global
La Tierra, nuestro hogar society founded on
respect for nature,
La humanidad es parte de un vasto
universal human rights,
universo evolutivo. La Tierra, nuestro
economic jus
hogar, está viva con una comunidad
singular de vida. Las fuerzas de la tice, and a culture of
naturaleza promueven a que la existencia peace. Towards this
sea una aventura exigente e incierta, end, it is imperative
pero la Tierra ha brindado las condiciones that we, the peoples of
esenciales para la evolución de la vida. La Earth, declare our
capacidad de recuperación de la responsibility to one
comunidad de vida y el bienestar de la another, to the greater
humanidad dependen de la preservación community of life, and
de una biosfera saludable, con todos sus to future generations.
sistemas ecológicos, una rica variedad de Earth, Our Home
plantas y animales, tierras fértiles, aguas
puras y aire limpio. El medio ambiente Humanity is part of a
global, con sus recursos finitos, es una vast evolving universe.
preocupación común para todos los Earth, our home, is
pueblos. La protección de la vitalidad, la alive with a unique
diversidad y la belleza de la Tierra es un community of life. The
deber sagrado. forces of nature make
existence a demanding
La situación global and uncertain
Los patrones dominantes de producción y adventure, but Earth
consumo están causando devastación has provided the
ambiental, agotamiento de recursos y conditions essential to
una extinción masiva de especies. Las life's evolution. The
comunidades están siendo destruidas. resilience of the
Los beneficios del desarrollo no se community of life and
comparten equitativamente y la brecha the well-being of
entre ricos y pobres se está humanity depend upon
ensanchando. La injusticia, la pobreza, la preserving a healthy
ignorancia y los conflictos violentos se biosphere with all its
manifiestan por doquier y son la causa de ecological systems, a
grandes sufrimientos. Un aumento sin rich variety of plants
precedentes de la población humana ha and animals, fertile
sobrecargado los sistemas ecológicos y soils, pure waters, and
sociales. Los fundamentos de la clean air. The global
seguridad global están siendo environment with its
amenazados. Estas tendencias son finite resources is a
peligrosas, pero no inevitables. common concern of all
peoples. The protection
Los retos venideros
of Earth's vitality,
La elección es nuestra: formar una diversity, and beauty is
sociedad global para cuidar la Tierra y a sacred trust.
cuidarnos unos a otros o arriesgarnos a la
destrucción de nosotros mismos y de la The Global Situation
diversidad de la vida. Se necesitan The dominant patterns
cambios fundamentales en nuestros of production and
valores, instituciones y formas de vida. consumption are
Debemos darnos cuenta de que, una vez causing environmental
satisfechas las necesidades básicas, el devastation, the
desarrollo humano se refiere depletion of resources,
primordialmente a ser más, no a tener and a massive
más. Poseemos el conocimiento y la extinction of species.
tecnología necesarios para proveer a Communities are being
todos y para reducir nuestros impactos undermined. The
sobre el medio ambiente. El surgimiento benefits of development
de una sociedad civil global, está creando are not shared
nuevas oportunidades para construir un equitably and the gap
mundo democrático y humanitario. between rich and poor
Nuestros retos ambientales, económicos, is widening. Injustice,
políticos, sociales y espirituales, están poverty, ignorance, and
interrelacionados y juntos podemos violent conflict are
proponer y concretar soluciones widespread and the
comprensivas. cause of great
suffering. An
Responsabilidad Universal
unprecedented rise in
Para llevar a cabo estas aspiraciones, human population has
debemos tomar la decisión de vivir de overburdened ecological
acuerdo con un sentido de and social systems. The
responsabilidad universal, foundations of global
identificándonos con toda la comunidad security are threatened.
terrestre, al igual que con nuestras These trends are
comunidades locales. Somos ciudadanos perilous—but not
de diferentes naciones y de un solo inevitable.
mundo al mismo tiempo, en donde los
The Challenges Ahead
ámbitos local y global, se encuentran
estrechamente vinculados. Todos The choice is ours: form
compartimos una responsabilidad hacia el a global partnership to
bienestar presente y futuro de la familia care for Earth and one
humana y del mundo viviente en su another or risk the
amplitud. El espíritu de solidaridad destruction of ourselves
humana y de afinidad con toda la vida se and the diversity of life.
fortalece cuando vivimos con reverencia Fundamental changes
ante el misterio del ser, con gratitud por are needed in our
el regalo de la vida y con humildad con values, institutions, and
respecto al lugar que ocupa el ser ways of living. We must
humano en la naturaleza. realize that when basic
needs have been met,
Necesitamos urgentemente una visión
compartida sobre los valores básicos que human development is
primarily about being
brinden un fundamento ético para la
more, not having more.
comunidad mundial emergente. Por lo
tanto, juntos y con una gran esperanza, We have the knowledge
and technology to
afirmamos los siguientes principios
provide for all and to
interdependientes, para una forma de
reduce our impacts on
vida sostenible, como un fundamento
común mediante el cual se deberá guiar y the environment. The
emergence of a global
valorar la conducta de las personas,
civil society is creating
organizaciones, empresas, gobiernos e
instituciones transnacionales. new opportunities to
build a democratic and
humane world. Our
PRINCIPIOS environmental,
economic, political,
I. RESPETO Y CUIDADO DE LA social, and spiritual
COMUNIDAD DE LA VIDA challenges are
1. Respetar la Tierra y la vida en toda su interconnected, and
diversidad together we can forge
inclusive solutions.
2. Cuidar la comunidad de la vida con
entendimiento, compasión y amor. Universal Responsibility
3. Construir sociedades democráticas que To realize these
sean justas, participativas, sostenibles y aspirations, we must
pacíficas decide to live with a
sense of universal
4. Asegurar que los frutos y la belleza de
responsibility,
la Tierra se preserven para las
identifying ourselves
generaciones presentes y futuras.
with the whole Earth
II. INTEGRIDAD ECOLÓGICA community as well as
5. Proteger y restaurar la integridad de our local communities.
los sistemas ecológicos de la Tierra, con We are at once citizens
especial preocupación por la diversidad of different nations and
biológica y los procesos naturales que of one world in which
sustentan la vida. the local and global are
linked. Everyone shares
6. Evitar dañar como el mejor método de responsibility for the
protección ambiental y cuando el present and future well-
conocimiento sea limitado, proceder con being of the human
precaución. family and the larger
7. Adoptar patrones de producción, living world. The spirit
consumo y reproducción que of human solidarity and
salvaguarden las capacidades kinship with all life is
regenerativas de la Tierra, los derechos strengthened when we
humanos y el bienestar comunitario. live with reverence for
the mystery of being,
8. Impulsar el estudio de la sostenibilidad
gratitude for the gift of
ecológica y promover el intercambio life, and humility
abierto y la extensa aplicación del regarding the human
conocimiento adquirido. place in nature.
III. JUSTICIA SOCIAL Y ECONÓMICA We urgently need a
shared vision of basic
9. Erradicar la pobreza como un
values to provide an
imperativo ético, social y ambiental.
ethical foundation for
10. Asegurar que las actividades e the emerging world
instituciones económicas, a todo nivel, community. Therefore,
promuevan el desarrollo humano de together in hope we
forma equitativa y sostenible. affirm the following
11. Afirmar la igualdad y equidad de interdependent
género como prerrequisitos para el principles for a
desarrollo sostenible y asegurar el acceso sustainable way of life
universal a la educación, el cuidado de la as a common standard
salud y la oportunidad económica. by which the conduct of
all individuals,
12. Defender el derecho de todos, sin organizations,
discriminación, a un entorno natural y businesses,
social que apoye la dignidad humana, la governments, and
salud física y el bienestar espiritual, con transnational
especial atención a los derechos de los institutions is to be
pueblos indígenas y las minorías. guided and assessed.
IV. DEMOCRACIA, NO VIOLENCIA Y PAZ PRINCIPLES
13. Fortalecer las instituciones I. RESPECT AND CARE
democráticas en todos los niveles y FOR THE COMMUNITY
brindar transparencia y rendimiento de OF LIFE
cuentas en la gobernabilidad,
participación inclusiva en la toma de 1. Respect Earth and
decisiones y acceso a la justicia. life in all its diversity.
Recognize that all beings are
14. Integrar en la educación formal y en interdependent and every form
of life has value regardless of
el aprendizaje a lo largo de la vida, las its worth to human beings.
habilidades, el conocimiento y los valores Affirm faith in the inherent
necesarios para un modo de vida dignity of all human beings and
in the intellectual, artistic,
sostenible. ethical, and spiritual potential
15. Tratar a todos los seres vivientes con of humanity.

respeto y consideración. 2. Care for the

16. Promover una cultura de tolerancia, community of life with
no violencia y paz. understanding,
compassion, and love.
EL CAMINO HACIA ADELANTE Accept that with the right to
own, manage, and use natural
Como nunca antes en la historia, el resources comes the duty to
destino común nos hace un llamado a prevent environmental harm
and to protect the rights of
buscar un nuevo comienzo. Tal people
renovación es la promesa de estos Affirm that with increased
principios de la Carta de la Tierra. Para freedom, knowledge, and
power comes increased
cumplir esta promesa, debemos responsibility to promote the
comprometernos a adoptar y promover common good
los valores y objetivos en ella expuestos.
3. Build democratic
El proceso requerirá un cambio de societies that are just,
mentalidad y de corazón; requiere participatory,
también de un nuevo sentido de sustainable, and
interdependencia global y responsabilidad peaceful.
universal. Debemos desarrollar y aplicar Ensure that communities at all
levels guarantee human rights
imaginativamente la visión de un modo and fundamental freedoms and
provide everyone an
de vida sostenible a nivel local, nacional, opportunity to realize his or her
regional y global. Nuestra diversidad full potential.
cultural es una herencia preciosa y las Promote social and economic
justice, enabling all to achieve
diferentes culturas encontrarán sus a secure and meaningful
propias formas para concretar lo livelihood that is ecologically
establecido. Debemos profundizar y responsible.
ampliar el diálogo global que generó la 4. Secure Earth's
Carta de la Tierra, puesto que tenemos bounty and beauty for
mucho que aprender en la búsqueda present and future
colaboradora de la verdad y la sabiduría. generations.
Recognize that the freedom of
La vida a menudo conduce a tensiones action of each generation is
entre valores importantes. Ello puede qualified by the needs of future
implicar decisiones difíciles; sin embargo, generations.
Transmit to future generations
se debe buscar la manera de armonizar la values, traditions, and
diversidad con la unidad; el ejercicio de la institutions that support the
libertad con el bien común; los objetivos long-term flourishing of Earth's
human and ecological
de corto plazo con las metas a largo communities.
plazo. Todo individuo, familia,
organización y comunidad, tiene un papel In order to fulfill these
vital que cumplir. Las artes, las ciencias, four broad
las religiones, las instituciones commitments, it is
educativas, los medios de comunicación, necessary to:
las empresas, las organizaciones no II. ECOLOGICAL
gubernamentales y los gobiernos, están INTEGRITY
llamados a ofrecer un liderazgo creativo.
5. Protect and restore
La alianza entre gobiernos, sociedad civil
the integrity of Earth's
y empresas, es esencial para la
ecological systems,
gobernabilidad efectiva.
with special concern for
Con el objeto de construir una comunidad biological diversity and
global sostenible, las naciones del mundo the natural processes
deben renovar su compromiso con las that sustain life.
Naciones Unidas, cumplir con sus Adopt at all levels sustainable
development plans and
obligaciones bajo los acuerdos regulations that make
internacionales existentes y apoyar la environmental conservation and
implementación de los principios de la rehabilitation integral to all
development initiatives.
Carta de la Tierra, por medio de un Establish and safeguard viable
instrumento internacional legalmente nature and biosphere reserves,
vinculante sobre medio ambiente y including wild lands and marine
areas, to protect Earth's life
desarrollo. support systems, maintain
biodiversity, and preserve our
Que el nuestro sea un tiempo que se
natural heritage.
recuerde por el despertar de una nueva Promote the recovery of
reverencia ante la vida; por la firme endangered species and
ecosystems.
resolución de alcanzar la sostenibilidad;
Control and eradicate non-
por el aceleramiento en la lucha por la native or genetically modified
justicia y la paz y por la alegre organisms harmful to native
species and the environment,
celebración de la vida. and prevent introduction of
such harmful organisms.
Adhiérase Manage the use of renewable
resources such as water, soil,
Sitio de la CARTA DE LA TIERRA: forest products, and marine life
http://www.earthcharter.org/endorse/ in ways that do not exceed
rates of regeneration and that
protect the health of
ecosystems.
Manage the extraction and use
of non-renewable resources
such as minerals and fossil
fuels in ways that minimize
depletion and cause no serious
environmental damage.

6. Prevent harm as the

best method of
environmental
protection and, when
knowledge is limited,
apply a precautionary
approach.
Take action to avoid the
possibility of serious or
irreversible environmental harm
even when scientific knowledge
is incomplete or inconclusive.
Place the burden of proof on
those who argue that a
proposed activity will not cause
significant harm, and make the
responsible parties liable for
environmental harm.
Ensure that decision making
addresses the cumulative, long-
term, indirect, long distance,
and global consequences of
human activities.
Prevent pollution of any part of
the environment and allow no
build-up of radioactive, toxic, or
other hazardous substances
Avoid military activities
damaging to the environment.

7. Adopt patterns of
production,
consumption, and
reproduction that
safeguard Earth's
regenerative capacities,
human rights, and
community well-being.
Reduce, reuse, and recycle the
materials used in production
and consumption systems, and
ensure that residual waste can
be assimilated by ecological
systems.
Act with restraint and efficiency
when using energy, and rely
increasingly on renewable
energy sources such as solar
and wind.
Promote the development,
adoption, and equitable
transfer of environmentally
sound technologies.
Internalize the full
environmental and social costs
of goods and services in the
selling price, and enable
consumers to identify products
that meet the highest social
and environmental standards.
Ensure universal access to
health care that fosters
reproductive health and
responsible reproduction.
Adopt lifestyles that emphasize
the quality of life and material
sufficiency in a finite world.
8. Advance the study of
ecological sustainability
and promote the open
exchange and wide
application of the
knowledge acquired.
Support international scientific
and technical cooperation on
sustainability, with special
attention to the needs of
developing nations.
Recognize and preserve the
traditional knowledge and
spiritual wisdom in all cultures
that contribute to
environmental protection and
human well-being.
Ensure that information of vital
importance to human health
and environmental protection,
including genetic information,
remains available in the public
domain.

III. SOCIAL AND

ECONOMIC JUSTICE
9. Eradicate poverty as
an ethical, social, and
environmental
imperative.
Guarantee the right to potable
water, clean air, food security,
uncontaminated soil, shelter,
and safe sanitation, allocating
the national and international
resources required.
Empower every human being
with the education and
resources to secure a
sustainable livelihood, and
provide social security and
safety nets for those who are
unable to support themselves.
Recognize the ignored, protect
the vulnerable, serve those who
suffer, and enable them to
develop their capacities and to
pursue their aspirations.

10. Ensure that

economic activities and
institutions at all levels
promote human
development in an
equitable and
sustainable manner.
Promote the equitable
distribution of wealth within
nations and among nations.
Enhance the intellectual,
financial, technical, and social
resources of developing
nations, and relieve them of
onerous international debt.
Ensure that all trade supports
sustainable resource use,
environmental protection, and
progressive labor standards.
Require multinational
corporations and international
financial organizations to act
transparently in the public
good, and hold them
accountable for the
consequences of their activities.

11. Affirm gender

equality and equity as
prerequisites to
sustainable
development and
ensure universal access
to education, health
care, and economic
opportunity.
Secure the human rights of
women and girls and end all
violence against them.
Promote the active participation
of women in all aspects of
economic, political, civil, social,
and cultural life as full and
equal partners, decision
makers, leaders, and
beneficiaries.
Strengthen families and ensure
the safety and loving nurture of
all family members.

12. Uphold the right of

all, without
discrimination, to a
natural and social
environment supportive
of human dignity,
bodily health, and
spiritual well-being,
with special attention to
the rights of indigenous
peoples and minorities.
Eliminate discrimination in all
its forms, such as that based on
race, color, sex, sexual
orientation, religion, language,
and national, ethnic or social
origin.
Affirm the right of indigenous
peoples to their spirituality,
knowledge, lands and resources
and to their related practice of
sustainable livelihoods.
Honor and support the young
people of our communities,
enabling them to fulfill their
essential role in creating
sustainable societies.
Protect and restore outstanding
places of cultural and spiritual
significance.

IV. DEMOCRACY,
NONVIOLENCE, AND
PEACE
13. Strengthen
democratic institutions
at all levels, and
provide transparency
and accountability in
governance, inclusive
participation in decision
making, and access to
justice.
Uphold the right of everyone to
receive clear and timely
information on environmental
matters and all development
plans and activities which are
likely to affect them or in which
they have an interest.
Support local, regional and
global civil society, and
promote the meaningful
participation of all interested
individuals and organizations in
decision making.
Protect the rights to freedom of
opinion, expression, peaceful
assembly, association, and
dissent.
Institute effective and efficient
access to administrative and
independent judicial
procedures, including remedies
and redress for environmental
harm and the threat of such
harm.
Eliminate corruption in all
public and private institutions.
Strengthen local communities,
enabling them to care for their
environments, and assign
environmental responsibilities
to the levels of government
where they can be carried out
most effectively.

14. Integrate into

formal education and
life-long learning the
knowledge, values, and
skills needed for a
sustainable way of life.
Provide all, especially children
and youth, with educational
opportunities that empower
them to contribute actively to
sustainable development.
Promote the contribution of the
arts and humanities as well as
the sciences in sustainability
education.
Enhance the role of the mass
media in raising awareness of
ecological and social
challenges.
Recognize the importance of
moral and spiritual education
for sustainable living.

15. Treat all living

beings with respect and
consideration.
Prevent cruelty to animals kept
in human societies and protect
them from suffering.
Protect wild animals from
methods of hunting, trapping,
and fishing that cause extreme,
prolonged, or avoidable
suffering.
Avoid or eliminate to the full
extent possible the taking or
destruction of non-targeted
species.
Avoid or eliminate to the full
extent possible the taking or
destruction of non-targeted
species.

16. Promote a culture

of tolerance,
nonviolence, and
peace.
Encourage and support mutual
understanding, solidarity, and
cooperation among all peoples
and within and among nations
Implement comprehensive
strategies to prevent violent
conflict and use collaborative
problem solving to manage and
resolve environmental conflicts
and other disputes.
Demilitarize national security
systems to the level of a non-
provocative defense posture,
and convert military resources
to peaceful purposes, including
ecological restoration.
Eliminate nuclear, biological,
and toxic weapons and other
weapons of mass destruction.
Ensure that the use of orbital
and outer space supports
environmental protection and
peace.
Recognize that peace is the
wholeness created by right
relationships with oneself, other
persons, other cultures, other
life, Earth, and the larger whole
of which all are a part.

THE WAY FORWARD

As never before in
history, common
destiny beckons us to
seek a new beginning.
Such renewal is the
promise of these Earth
Charter principles. To
fulfill this promise, we
must commit ourselves
to adopt and promote
the values and
objectives of the
Charter.
This requires a change
of mind and heart. It
requires a new sense of
global interdependence
and universal
responsibility. We must
imaginatively develop
and apply the vision of
a sustainable way of life
locally, nationally,
regionally, and globally.
Our cultural diversity is
a precious heritage and
different cultures will
find their own
distinctive ways to
realize the vision. We
must deepen and
expand the global
dialogue that generated
the Earth Charter, for
we have much to learn
from the ongoing
collaborative search for
truth and wisdom.
Life often involves
tensions between
important values. This
can mean difficult
choices. However, we
must find ways to
harmonize diversity
with unity, the exercise
of freedom with the
common good, short-
term objectives with
long-term goals. Every
individual, family,
organization, and
community has a vital
role to play. The arts,
sciences, religions,
educational institutions,
media, businesses,
nongovernmental
organizations, and
governments are all
called to offer creative
leadership. The
partnership of
government, civil
society, and business is
essential for effective
governance.
In order to build a
sustainable global
community, the nations
of the world must
renew their
commitment to the
United Nations, fulfill
their obligations under
existing international
agreements, and
 support the
implementation of Earth
Charter principles with
an international legally
binding instrument on
environment and
development.
Let ours be a time
remembered for the
awakening of a new
reverence for life, the
firm resolve to achieve
sustainability, the
quickening of the
struggle for justice and
peace, and the joyful
celebration of life.
Endorse it
The Earth Charter
Website
Explore the Earth
Charter website for
more information:
www.earthcharter.or
g

Miembros del Consejo

Chairs of the Bureau
Directivo de la
of the Inciative of the
Iniciativa de la
Earth Charter
Carta de la Tierra
Amadou Toumani Touré, Mali (África)
Kamla Chowdhry, India (Asia y el Pacífico)
Mikhail Gorbachev, Rusia (Europa)
Maurice F. Strong, Canada (América del Norte)
Mercedes Sosa, Argentina (América latina y el Caribe)