The Terra Carta and Earth Charter are not the same, but both work towards a common goal of creating a better world for people and all life.
After a decade long, worldwide, cross cultural dialogue on common goals and shared values, the Earth Charter was launched by the Earth Charter Commission in 2000 with the purpose of highlighting the ethical and practical imperatives for attaining a future that is sustainable and fulfilling for all. For the past two decades, it has been used and adopted by thousands of organizations world-wide. The Earth Charter is a document with sixteen principles to be used by members of the public, businesses, educational institutions, young leaders, and governments. It seeks to inspire in all people a new sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility for the well-being of the whole human family, the greater community of life, and future generations.
The Terra Carta was launched in 2021 by HRH The Prince of Wales, after campaigning for the environment for over 50 years, and serves as the guiding mandate for his Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI). Deriving its name from the historic Magna Carta, which inspired a belief in the fundamental rights and liberties of people over 800 years ago, the Terra Carta aims to reunite people and planet, by giving fundamental rights and value to Nature, ensuring a lasting impact and tangible legacy for this generation. The Terra Carta offers the basis of a recovery plan to 2030 that puts Nature, People and Planet at the heart of global value creationand focusses, specifically on the private sector. In support of global agreements such as the Paris Climate Agreement, the Convention of Biological Diversity and the Sustainable Development Goals, the Terra Carta outlines ten areas for action and comprises of nearly 100 actions for business. The Terra Carta aims to encourage and provide a framework for businesses to accelerate along their respective transition journeys to a sustainable future.
The Earth Charter International is a supporter of HRH The Prince of Wales’ Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) and the SMI is supportive of the Earth Charter.
Note:
Earth Charter International (ECI) is the organization that powers the Earth Charter global movement and the Earth Charter Center for Education for Sustainable Development.
The Sustainable Markets Initiative aims to lead and accelerate the world’s transition to a sustainable future by putting Nature, People and Planet at the heart of our global value creation. His Royal Highness launched the Sustainable Markets Initiative at the World Economic Forum 2020 Annual Meeting in Davos.