The “ethics of the future” is a critical question for sustainable development. Within such a context, one of UNESCO’s major strategic thrusts calls for the promotion of principles, policies and ethical norms to guide scientific and technological development that is sustainable.

UNESCO supports the Earth Charter, which serves as an ethical framework and advocates respect and responsibility for questions of ecological integrity, social and economic justice and equity, democracy, alleviation of poverty, non-violence and peace.

The Earh Charter

The Earth Charter serves as a base of ethical principles inspiring the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. It fleshes out fundamental principles to build a just, sustainable and peaceful global society. It promotes an integrated approach to global issues.

The Earth Charter sets out fundamental principles, such as:

• To preserve humankind: integrity, unity and diversity must be reconciled;
• Recognizing others as the foundation of all relationships and all peace;
• Acceptance that the preservation of the common good is indispensable to the exercise of freedom;
• Innovation is not an aim in itself.