As concerns regarding the current state of the environment grow, countries around the world are forced to consider what can and should be done to counteract problems such as global warming, pollution and the depletion of natural resources. A recent report by Alberta Environment is one example of this dire need for change. This report states that, “air pollution that causes heart and lung problems has exceeded government limits at two Edmonton monitoring stations and must be reduced” [1]. While examples like this make it very clear that a problem exists, what should be done to remedy this situation is less obvious.
The Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, has suggested one possible avenue of reform - a “Magna Carta for the Earth” [2]. At a recent meeting in London, with both “forestry and climate experts” in attendance, Prince Charles urged that the development of an international agreement designed to protect the environment is necessary [3]. Specifically, Prince Charles stated that the year 2015 “provides an absolutely crucial opportunity - if not the last chance before we end up in an irreversible situation - for the international community to establish a new set of interlocking, coherent and ambitious frameworks governing human development, poverty, disaster risk reduction, the natural environment and climate change” [4]. In light of the fact that this is the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, perhaps it is fitting to develop a new “Magna Carta” to protect our Earth as a whole.
Moreover, Prince Charles acknowledged the Charter of the Forest in his speech and how many elements of this document can be considered “timeless” [5]. The Charter of the Forest was developed in 1217; it expanded on provisions in the Magna Carta by providing the “foundation for the modern concept of” the protection of resources [6]. Prince Charles acknowledged that just like the Charter of the Forest, “new agreements on climate change and sustainable development goals still need to have forests and sustainable land use at heart” [7].
In his speech, Prince Charles referenced the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and a climate change agreement that will be signed by 196 countries “at the Paris summit in December 2015” [8]. He suggested that these agreements should be “seen as a new Magna Carta for the Earth, and humanity’s relationship with it” [9].
What do you think of Prince Charles’ proposal? Is a “Magna Carta for the Earth” realistic? Do you think such an agreement would solve the current environmental problems, or is the situation already irreversible? Comment below to let us know what you think!
[2]http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/news-and-diary/11389/speech
[4] Supra note 2.
[5] Ibid.
[6] http://www.magnacartacanada.ca/the-charter-of-the-forest/
[7] Supra note 2.
[8] https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/sustainabledevelopmentgoals; http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/resources/Paris%202015-getting%20a%20global%20agreement%20on%20climate%20change.pdf
[9] Supra note 2.
