Summary
On October 28, 1982, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution to adopt and proclaim the World Charter for Nature which recognizes mankind as part of nature, the importance of living in harmony with nature, and that all life has intrinsic value and warrants respect regardless of its worth to man. The charter was adopted through a vote of 111 countries in favor of the resolution, and 1 country (the United States) voting against.
The World Charter for Nature states: “mankind is part of nature and life depends on the uninterrupted functioning of natural systems” and that “every form of life is unique, warranting respect regardless of its worth to man, and, to accord other organisms such recognition, man must be guided by a moral code” (A/RES/37/7, 17). The Charter emphasizes that maintaining the balance and quality of nature, and conserving natural resources, is essential to present and future generations.
Suggested Citation:
Kauffman, Craig, Catherine Haas, Alex Putzer, Shrishtee Bajpai, Kelsey Leonard, Elizabeth Macpherson, Pamela Martin, Alessandro Pelizzon & Linda Sheehan. Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. V2. 2026. Distributed by the Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. https://ecojurisprudence.org/initiatives/world-charter-for-nature-1982/.
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