Planetary Consciousness, Ethics of Care and Intergenerational Justice
1 – 3 July 2025, The Netherlands
From 1-3 July 2025, a special gathering will take place to celebrate 25 years of tireless efforts to turn the Earth Charter vision into action. The three-day event titled “Planetary Consciousness, the Ethics of Care and Intergenerational Justice,” will bring nature and future generations to the core of the celebration and dialogues. You are encouraged to take part in it and register.
Context/Background:
The Earth Charter was launched in 2000 as a call for action, a document of hope that offers a comprehensive and solid ethical foundation for the Earth Community and inspiration for the world at the beginning of the new century and millennium. During the first quarter of the century, we have experienced many challenges affecting the well-being of the greater community of life and our aspirations for a higher level of justice and peace. At the same time, there has been a growing recognition that we must take responsibility to care for Earth and work towards a more just, sustainable, and peaceful civilization. Therefore, in the year 2025, it is time to reflect, take stock and consider the higher purpose of the Earth Charter work and movement. We will come together with confidence to reinforce our commitment to the Earth Charter, find synergies with other similar movements and join forces to turning conscience into action for a thriving Earth.
Over the past two decades, much has evolved with regards to the understanding and narrative around the rights of nature and future generations, the importance and urgency to address climate change, as well as on new understanding about how the aspiration to achieve sustainability and peace are interdependent (for instance through the Agenda 2030 framed in the Sustainable Development Goals). Similarly, UNESCO policies are increasingly calling for education for change that among other things foster the underlying values of global citizenship and sustainability. This conference will look at how the Earth Charter intersects with these various efforts.
“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.” (The Earth Charter Preamble)
Purpose:
- Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Earth Charter launch, take stock and reflect on its contributions to the world.
- Strengthen the global Earth Charter community.
- Offer an opportunity for individuals and organizations that are working in similar fields to share their experiences and best practices.
- Foster collaboration, find synergies and build bridges with other similar movements and efforts.
- Envision what is next for the Earth Charter Movement.
Participants
- Members of the Earth Charter International Council and Commission
- Earth Charter International Affiliated and Partner organizations
- Business executives, Academics, Policy makers, Activists
- Youth Leaders and Youth representatives of partner organizations
Themes and Sessions
Each session of this event will offer an opportunity to deepen understanding on how The Earth Charter articulates key themes and intersects with current efforts, as well as to learn from examples, stories and journeys from people who have been working on these.
- Re-calibrating our relationship with the Community of Life, Nature and Earth, our Home.
- Rethinking our ethical responsibility with the well-being of future generations.
- Rethinking education for the current times, transformative learning, education for sustainability and global citizenship.
- Exploring how The Earth Charter intersects with the SDGs, the Pact for the Future, and the aspiration of building an ecological civilization and the concept of Earth Trusteeship.
The Event
This three-day gathering, will take place in The Netherlands, in three different moments and venues:
Day 1 – Tuesday, 1 July 2025: Opening, Exchange and Meet ups
On Day 1, a range of sessions will take place offering an opportunity to exchange experiences and deepen collaboration in using the Earth Charter and how to generate more impact going forward. This will involve members of the ECI Council, Commission, advisors, young leaders, ECI affiliated and partner organizations.
Location: Hotel Bilderberg Europa in Scheveningen, The Hague
Day 2 – Wednesday, 2 July 2025: Planetary Consciousness, Ethics of Care and Intergenerational Justice
On Day 2, a series of panels, interactive dialogues and exchange between participants, special contributors and speakers. The sessions will involve looking at:
- Nurturing our planetary consciousness and ethical responsibility with regards to the well-being of the community of life and Future Generations.
- The evolving process of the Rights of Nature and Earth Trusteeship.
- Experiences and methods on how to take the well-being and interests of Future Generations into account.
- Education for Change, Transformative Learning, Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship.
- The nexus between The Earth Charter and other major efforts and how it can be integrated into national and international legal systems and similar initiatives.
There will be space for networking and getting to know what Earth Charter International and partners can offer. The day will conclude with a “walking dinner” in the Foyer.
Location: the Peace Palace, The Hague
Day 3 – Thursday, 3 July 2025: Business and Ethics, Intergenerational Dialogue and Earth Storytelling
On Day 3, three parallel sessions will take place:
- An exchange on Business and Ethics involving: Business employees, managers and members of WorkersCouncils of Dutch companies will take business ethics and sustainability practices to higher levels by using the Earth Charter as a framework. This part of the programme is an initiative of the SBI foundation (owner of the Estate Landgoed Zonheuvel, the event venue and Earth Charter Endorser)
- An intergenerational dialogue will take place, guided by young leaders, as part of the One World Citizens Initiative and The Earth Charter Young Leaders network.
- Film Screening and dialogue.
The event will conclude with an Earth Storytelling performance in the Open-Air Theatre.
Location: Landgoed Zonheuvel in Doorn
“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.” (The Earth Charter, The Way Forward)
Organizers:
This conference is organized by Earth Charter International and Earth Charter Netherlands, in collaboration with SBI Landgoed Zonheuvel, One World Citizens Initiative and other partner organizations.
Sponsored by:
To be announced
Together, we are turning conscience into action for a thriving Earth.
