Survey of Principles
11. THE RIGHT OF ALL PEOPLES TO DEVELOPMET
• Stockholm Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, 1972 (SL)
Of all things in the world, people are the most precious. (Part I, paragraph 5) Economic and social development is essential for ensuring a favourable living and working environment for man and for creating conditions on earth that are necessary for the improvement of the quality of life. (Principle 8)
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1976 (LD)
The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions.
(Article 11.1)
• African Charter on Human and People's Rights, Banjul, 1986 (SL)
All peoples shall have the right to their economic, social and cultural development with due regard to their freedom and identity and in the equal enjoyment of the common heritage of mankind. (Article 22.1)
States shall have the duty, individually or collectively, to ensure the exercise of the right to development. (Article 22.2)
• UN Declaration on the Right to Development, 1986 (SL)
Recognizing that development is a comprehensive economic, social, cultural and political process, which aims at the constant improvement of the well-being of the entire population and of all individuals on the basis of their active, free and meaningful participation in development and in the fair distribution of benefits resulting therefrom. (Preamble)
The right to development is an inalienable human right by virtue of which every human person and all peoples are entitled to participate in, contribute to, and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development, in which all human rights and fundamental freedoms can be fully realized. (Article 1.1)
• Costa Rica Declaration of Human Responsibilities for Peace and Sustainable Development, 1989 (SL)
Considering the aspirations of all members of the human family to achieve their full potentials through the cultural, social, political and economic development of
individuals and communities, recognized in the Declaration on the Right to Development to be an inherent human right, (Preamble)
• Caring for the Earth: A Strategy for Sustainable Living, IUCN, UNEP, WWF, 1991 Improve the quality of human life. The real aim of development is to improve the quality of human life. It is a process that enables human beings to realize their
The Right of all Peoples to Development, continued
potential, build self-confidence and lead lives of dignity and fulfilment. Economic growth is an important component of development, but it cannot be a goal in itself, nor can it go on indefinitely. Although people differ in the goals that they would set for development, some are virtually universal. These include a long and healthy life, education, access to the resources needed for a decent standard of living, political freedom, guaranteed human rights, and freedom from violence.
Development is real only if it makes our lives better in all these respects.
(Principles of a sustainable society, p. 9)
• Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, 1992 (SL)
Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development. They are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature. (Principle 1)
The right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations. (Principle 3)
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1992 (LD)
The Parties have a right to, and should, promote sustainable development.
(Article 3.4)
• Draft Declaration of Principles on Human Rights and the Environment; Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, 1994
Everyone has the right to benefit equitably from the conservation and sustainable use of nature and natural resources for cultural, ecological, educational, health, livelihood, recreational, spiritual or other purposes. This includes ecologically sound access to nature. (Part II. Principle 13)
• Copenhagen Declaration, World Summit for Social Development, 1995 (SL) Promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, including the right to development;
(Principle 26.j)
• Draft International Covenant on Environment and Development, IUCN, 1995 Conscious that the right to development must be fulfilled so as to meet the development and environmental needs of present and future generations in a sustainable and equitable manner. (Preamble)
The exercise of the right to development entails the obligation to meet the developmental and environmental needs of humanity in a sustainable and equitable manner. (Article 8)
Parties undertake to achieve progressively the full realization of the right of everyone to an environment and a level of development adequate for their health, well-being and dignity. (Article 12.1)
12. ITEGRATIO OF EVIROMET AD DEVELOPMET
• Stockholm Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, 1972 (SL)
In order to achieve a more rational management of resources and thus to improve the environment, States should adopt an integrated and co-ordinated approach to their development planning so as to ensure that development is compatible with the need to protect and improve environment for the benefit of their population.
(Principle 13)
Rational planning constitutes an essential tool for reconciling any conflict between the needs of development and the need to protect and improve the environment. (Principle 14)
• World Charter for Nature, 1982 (SL)
In the decision-making process it shall be recognized that man's needs can be met only by ensuring the proper functioning of natural systems and by respecting the principles set forth in the present Charter. (Principle 6)
In the planning and implementation of social and economic development
activities, due account shall be taken of the fact that the conservation of nature is an integral part of those activities. (Principle 7)
• Experts Group on Environmental Law of the WCED, Legal Principles for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, 1987
States shall ensure that the conservation of natural resources and the
environment is treated as an integral part of the planning and implementation of development activities. Particular attention shall be paid to environmental problems arising in developing countries and to the need to incorporate environmental considerations in all development assistance programmes.
(Article 7.1)
• Tokyo Declaration of the World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987 Integrate Environment and Economics in Decision-Making. Environmental and economic goals can and must be made mutually reinforcing. Sustainability requires the enforcement of wider responsibilities for the impacts of policy
decisions. Those making such policy decisions must be responsible for the impact of those decisions upon the environmental resource capital of their nations. They must focus on the sources of environmental damage rather than the symptoms.
The ability to anticipate and prevent environmental damage will require that the ecological dimensions of policy be considered at the same time as the economic,
trade, energy, agricultural, and other dimensions. They must be considered on the same agendas and in the same national and international institutions.
(Principle 6)
Integration of Environment and Development, continued
• Kampala Declaration on Sustainable Development in Africa, 1989 (SL) Conscious of the vital importance of environmental conservation and
management of our economic and social development and the survival of the present and future generations in our countries;
Confirming that economic development which leads to the degradation of our environment and the depletion of our natural resources is simply not sustainable;
Convinced that development which is not sustainable should no longer be called development;
Recognizing that sustainable development is a priority for Africa which requires political commitment and mobilization of our natural resources as well as effective subregional, regional and global co-operation.
Resolve to achieve sustainable development within and among our countries in Africa. (Preamble)
We undertake to integrate environmental concerns into all existing and future economic and sectoral policies to ensure that they protect and improve the environment and natural resource base on which the health and welfare of our people depend. (Principle 3)
• Kuala Lumpur Accord on Environment and Development, 1990 (SL)
AWARE, that the management of the environment and the pursuit of sustainable development are imperative to secure the well-being of the people of ASEA
(Association of South East Asian ations) today and in the future (Preamble) To give priority to initiatives and efforts enabling the inclusion of environmental factors into economic calculations and thus providing a better base for
international economic cooperation. (Principle 3)
• Moscow Declaration; Global Forum on Environment and Development for Human Survival, 1990
Concern with the environment must become pervasive at every level of decision-making, from the personal to the global.
• Caring for the Earth: A Strategy for Sustainable Living, IUCN, UNEP, WWF, 1991
Provide a national framework for integrating development and conservation.(Principles of a Sustainable Society, p. 11)
Integration of Environment and Development, continued
• The Hague Recommendation on International Environmental Law, 1991 (SL) The principles of conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity must extend beyond specifically protected areas and should be integrated into industrial, agricultural and all other policies. (Principle II.5a)
• Agenda 21, 1992 (SL)
Prevailing systems for decision-making in many countries tend to separate
economic, social and environmental factors at the policy, planning and management levels. This influences the actions of all groups in society, including Governments, industry and individuals, and has important implications for the efficiency and sustainability of development. An adjustment or even a fundamental reshaping of decision-making, in the light of country-specific conditions, may be necessary if environment and development is to be put at the centre of economic and political decision-making, in effect achieving a full integration of these factors. (Paragraph 8.2)
The overall objective is to improve or restructure the decision-making process so that consideration of socioeconomic and environmental issues is fully integrated and a broader range of public participation assured. (Paragraph 8.3)
• Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, 1992 (SL)
In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection shall constitute an integral part of the development process and cannot be considered in isolation from it. (Principle 4)
• Nuuk Declaration on Environment and Development in the Arctic, 1993 (SL)
oting that in order to achieve sustainable development, environmental
protection shall constitute an integral part of the development process and cannot be considered in isolation from it. (Preamble)
• Draft International Covenant on Environment and Development, IUCN, 1995
Recognizing the need to integrate environmental and developmental policies and laws in order to fulfil basic human needs, improve the quality of life, and ensure a more secure future for all; (Preamble)
Parties shall pursue sustainable development policies aimed at the eradication of poverty, the general improvement of economic, social and cultural conditions, the
conservation of biological diversity, and the maintenance of essential ecological processes and life-support systems. (Article 13.1)
Parties shall ensure that environmental conservation is treated as an integral part of the planning and implementation of activities at all stages and at all levels, giving full and equal consideration to environmental, economic, social and cultural factors.
Integration of Environment and Development, continued To this end, Parties shall
(a) conduct regular national reviews of environmental and developmental policies and plans;
(b) enact effective laws and regulations which use, where appropriate, economic instruments; and
(c) establish or strengthen institutional structures and procedures to fully integrate environmental and developmental issues in all spheres of decision-making. (Article 13.2)