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PRINCIPLE ONE
Interdependence, participation, providing
information, and improving science
 We all need to recognize our economic, ecological and social
interdependence on a global scale and understand and respect
differing economic and social views, values, traditions and
aspirations. We are all caretakers of the economy, the environment,
and social well-being for the benefit of present and future
generations. Today’s decisions must be balanced with tomorrow’s
effects. A participatory process on all scales of decision making is
vital to community sustainability. Such a process engages all the
people who have a stake in the outcome of the decision being
contemplated. It encourages the identification of concerns and
issues, promotes the wide generation of ideas for dealing with those
concerns, and helps those involved find a way to reach agreement
about solutions.
PRINCIPLES
| 1.1 |
Promote
Interdependence by being mutually responsible for and sharing
a common set of principles with others
Interdependence is a dynamic of being mutually responsible to
and sharing a common set of principles with others. This
concept differs distinctly from "dependence" in that an
interdependent relationship implies that all participants are
emotionally, economically, and/or morally interdependent. A
vision of sustainability does not focus solely on
environmental issues. More broadly, issues of sustainability
encompass economic, environmental, social and human needs.
Within this vision also include solutions that are long
lasting, supportive of research, and involvement by all.
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| 1.2 |
Be informed about the impact that each one of us has on a
global level
Individuals should cooperate in a spirit of global
partnership to conserve, protect and restore the health and
integrity of the Earth's ecosystem. In view of the different
contributions to global environmental degradation,
individuals have common but differentiated responsibilities.
The responsibility that we bear in the pursuit of
sustainability in view of the pressures we place on the
global environment, and of the technologies and financial
resources we all command must be acknowledged. |
| 1.3 |
Natural resources should be protected and managed for
those that cannot do so themselves
The environment and natural resources of people under
oppression, domination and occupation should be protected. |
| 1.4 |
We should encourage and
facilitate refinement of and access to information
We should encourage and facilitate the improvement and
refinement of information, and promote the opportunity for
equal and timely access to information by all. This results
in the production and dissemination of important, relevant
information, fosters a sense of community, produces ideas
that may not have been considered otherwise, and engenders a
sense of ownership on the part of the community for the final
decision. |
| 1.5 |
We should work to improve scientific and technological
knowledge through innovation
Individuals should cooperate to strengthen sustainable
development by improving scientific understandings through
exchanges of scientific and technological knowledge, and by
enhancing the development, adaptation, diffusion and transfer
of technologies, including new and innovative technologies. |
| 1.6 |
We should encourage and
facilitate public awareness, and involvement with relevant
issues
Environmental issues are best handled with the participation
of all concerned citizens, at the relevant level. At the
national level, each individual shall have appropriate access
to information concerning the environment that is held by
public authorities, including information on hazardous
materials and activities in their communities, and the
opportunity to participate in decision-making processes.
Facilitation and encouragement of public awareness and
participation should be accomplished by making information
widely available. Effective access to judicial and
administrative proceedings, including redress and remedy,
shall be provided. |
| 1.7 |
In order to protect the
environment the precautionary approach should be widely
applied
In order to protect the environment, the precautionary
approach shall be widely applied. Where there are threats of
serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific
certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing
cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.
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