Caring for the Earth A strategy for sustainable living Sustainable Development Set Series

'This is a strategy for a kind of development that provides real improvements in the quality of human life and at the same time conserves the vitality and diversity of the Earth. The goal is development that will be sustainable. Today it may seem visionary. but it is attainable. To more and more people it also appears our only rational option.' ? from Chapter 1 in 1980, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Wide Fund for Nature, the world's three most powerful organizations dedicated to preventing environmental catastrophe, published the World Conservation Strategy.

It stressed the interdependence of conservation and development, it gave currency to the idea of sustainable development and it made the point that unless the vitality and productivity of the planet are safeguarded, the future for humanity is at risk. Its impact was immediate and worldwide.

Now, ten years later, the same three organizations have formulated a new strategy for the 19905. Caring for the Earth builds on all that has been learned in the last decade about the complexity of the problems and shows how radical and far-reaching are the actions and objectives needed to meet them. Nothing less than a new ethic is required, based on affirming the community of life and cherishing its diversity ? an ethic which has to be reflected in our personal attitudes and the organization of our communities as much as in wider policies. Public participation is essential for the success of the strategy, which is addressed to individuals and citizens' groups as well as to governments - whatever their systems. Adopting it will not be easy, but it does provide the agenda for immediate action. Originally published in 1991

Foreword
User's guide to Caring for the Earth
PART I
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
PART II
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Principles for Sustainable Living
Building a sustainable society
Respecting and caring for the community of life
Improving the quality of human life
Conserving the Earth's vi~alityand diversity
Keeping within the Earth's carrying capacity
Changing, personal attitudes and practices
Enabling communities to care for their own environments
Providing a national framework for integrating development and conservation
Creating a global alliance
Additional Actions for Sustainable Living Energy
Business, industry and commerce
Human settlements
Farm' and range lands
Forest lands
Fresh waters
Chapter 16
PART ill
Chapter 17
Annex 1
Annex 2
Annex 3
Annex 4
Annex 5
Annex 6
Annex 7
Annex 8
Oceans and coastal areas
Implementation and Follow-up
Implementing the Strategy
Net primary production pre-empted or destroyed by human activities
Classification of 160 countries by income
Average life expectancy at birth in 160 countries
Categories and management objectives of protected areas
Classification of countries by consumption of commercial energy per person and total fertility rate
Indicators of sustainability
Estimated cost of implementing major aspects'of this Strategy
Strategies for sustainability
Glossary
Notes and sources
Acknowledgements