The first meeting of the Earth Charter International was held 2-4 April, 2006, at the UN-affiliated University for Peace. The International Council was recently formed as part of a major restructuring and expansion of the Earth Charter Initiative, which is working to promote adoption and implementation of the Earth Charter as a guiding document for global sustainable development.

The Earth Charter, one of the first programs of Earth Council, is a global consensus declaration on ethics, values and principles for a sustainable future. The document, developed over ten years by an exhaustive process of global consultation and consensus-building, has been endorsed by over 2,400 organizations, including prominent global institutions such as UNESCO and the World Conservation Union (IUCN). It is now referenced as a defining statement on sustainable development by other international documents and processes, and it has inspired many action projects around the world.

During the International Council meeting in Costa Rica, a special ceremony was also held to mark the strengthening of ties between the Earth Charter Initiative and the UN-affiliated University for Peace, especially in the field of education. The two organizations will be working together to promote a more integrated understanding of the peace and sustainable development issues, through a variety of courses, curriculum development projects, and strategic initiatives.

For more information on Earth Charter International, please visit www.earthcharter.org.