United Nations Conference on the Human Environment

I

Proclaims that:

1. Man is both creature and moulder of his environment, which gives him
physical sustenance and affords him the opportunity for intellectual,
moral, social and spiritual growth. In the long and tortuous evolution of
the human race on this planet a stage has been reached when, through the
rapid acceleration of science and technology, man has acquired the power
to transform his environment in countless ways and on an unprecedented
scale. Both aspects of man’s environment, the natural and the man-made,
are essential to his well-being and to the enjoyment of basic human
rights–even the right to life itself.

2. The protection and improvement of the human environment is a major
issue which affects the well-being of peoples and economic development
throughout the world; it is the urgent desire of the peoples of the whole
world and the duty of all Governments.

3. Man has constantly to sum up experience and go on discovering,
inventing, creating and advancing. In our time, man’s capability to
transform his surroundings, if used wisely, can bring to all peoples the
benefits of development and the opportunity to enhance the quality of
life. Wrongly or heedlessly applied, the same power can do incalculable
harm to human beings and the human environment. We see around us growing
evidence of man-made harm in many regions of the earth: dangerous levels
of pollution in water, air, earth and living beings; major and
undesirable disturbances to the ecological balance of the biosphere;
destruction and depletion of irreplaceable resources; and gross
deficiencies, harmful to the physical, mental and social health of man,
in the man-made environment, particularly in the living and working
environment.

4. In the developing countries most of the environmental problems are
caused by under-development. Millions continue to live far below the
minimum levels required for a decent human existence, deprived of
adequate food and clothing, shelter and Education , health and sanitation.
Therefore, the developing countries must direct their efforts to
development, bearing in mind their priorities and the need to safeguard
and improve the environment. For the same purpose, the industrialized
countries should make efforts to reduce the gap themselves and the
developing countries. In the industrialized countries, environmental
problems are generally related to industrialization and technological
development.

5. The natural growth of population continuously presents problems for
the preservation of the environment, and adequate policies and measures
should be adopted, as appropriate, to face these problems. Of all things
in the world, people are the most precious. It is the people that propel
social progress, create social wealth, develop science and technology
and, through their hard work, continuously transform the human
environment. Along with social progress and the advance of production,
science and technology, the capability of man to improve the environment
increases with each passing day.

6. A point has been reached in history when we must shape our actions
throughout the world with a more prudent care for their environmental
consequences. Through ignorance or indifference we can do massive and
irreversible harm to the earthly environment on which our life and
well-being depend. Conversely, through fuller knowledge and wiser action,
we can achieve for ourselves and our posterity a better life in an
environment more in keeping with human needs and hopes. There are broad
vistas for the enhancement of environmental quality and the creation of a
good life. What is needed is an enthusiastic but calm state of mind and
intense but orderly work. For the purpose of attaining freedom in the
world of nature, man must use knowledge to build, in collaboration with
nature, a better environment. To defend and improve the human environment
for present and future generations has become an imperative goal for
mankind–a goal to be pursued together with, and in harmony with, the
established and fundamental goals of peace and of worldwide economic and
social development.

7. To achieve this environmental goal will demand the acceptance of
responsibility by citizens and communities and by enterprises and
institutions at every level; all sharing equitably in common efforts.
Individuals in all walks of life as well as organizations in many fields,
by their values and the sum of their actions, will shape the world
environment of the future. Local and national governments will bear the
greatest burden for large-scale environmental policy and action within
their jurisdictions. International co-operation is also needed in order
to raise resources to support the developing countries in carrying out
their responsibilities in this field. A growing class of environmental
problems, because they are regional or global in extent or because they
affect the common international realm, will require extensive
co-operation among nations and action by International Organizations in
the common interest. The Conference calls upon Governments and peoples to
exert common efforts for the preservation and improvement of the human
environment, for the benefit of all the people and for their posterity.

II

Principles

States the common conviction that:

Principle 1

Man has the fundamental right to freedom, equality and adequate
conditions of life, in an environment of a quality that permits a life of
dignity and well-being, and he bears a solemn responsibility to protect
and improve the environment for present and future generations. In this
respect, policies promoting or perpetuating apartheid, racial
segregation, discrimination, colonial and other forms of oppression and
foreign domination stand condemned and must be eliminated.

Principle 2

The natural resources of the earth, including the air, water, land, flora
and fauna and especially representative samples of natural ecosystems,
must be safeguarded for the benefit of present and future generations
through careful planning or management, as appropriate.

Principle 3

The capacity of the earth to produce vital renewable resources must be
maintained and, wherever practicable, restored or improved.

Principle 4

Man has a special responsibility to safeguard and wisely manage the
heritage of wildlife and its habitat, which are now gravely imperilled by
a combination of adverse factors. Nature conservation, including
wildlife, must therefore receive importance in planning for economic
development.

Principle 5

The non-renewable resources of the earth must be employed in such a way
as to guard against the danger of their future exhaustion and to ensure
that benefits from such employment are shared by all mankind.

Principle 6

The discharge of toxic substances or of other substances and the release
of heat, in such quantities or concentrations as to exceed the capacity
of the environment to render them harmless, must be halted in order to
ensure that serious or irreversible damage is not inflicted upon
ecosystems. The just struggle of the peoples of all countries against
pollution should be supported.

Author: international

Mentioned in these Entries

Conventions: Chronological Index 1971-1990, Education, International Organizations, London Guidelines for the Exchange of Information on Chemicals in International Trade, Other Environmental conventions, United Nations Conference on the Human Environment 2.