241
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive licence to
Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
L. Westra et al. (eds.), Ecological Integrity in Science and Law,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46259-8_20
The Role of Trusteeship in Earth
Governance
Klaus Bosselmann
Abstract The call for institutionalizing Earth trusteeship cannot easily be reconciled with state sovereignty. The concept of state sovereignty emerged at a time of
great distances and absolute national autonomy. However, in a globalized, interconnected world utterly depending on the integrity of Earth’s ecological systems, absolute territorial sovereignty is counterproductive and potentially life threatening. The
chapter argues that the time is right for reconceptualizing state sovereignty.
Sovereignty includes not just fiduciary and trusteeship obligations towards the
state’s own citizens, but also towards humanity at large and Earth as a whole. The
UN Agenda 2030 with its Sustainable Development Goals offer a window opportunity for institutionalizing Earth trusteeship at international and national levels. A
critical tool for achieving this has been the adoption of the “Hague Principles for a
Universal Declaration on Responsibilities for Human Rights and Earth Trusteeship”
in the Peace Palace, The Hague, on the day of the 70th anniversary of the Universal
Declaration for Human Rights (10 December 2018).
1 Introduction
The 1987 Brundtland Report is known for having introduced the concept of sustainable development. Less known is this sentiment expressed at the beginning of the
report (Brundtland Report 1987, p. 1):
In the middle of the 20
th century, we saw our planet from space for the first time. Historians
may eventually find that this view had a greater impact on thought than did the Copernican
revolution of the 16
th century (…). We can see and study the Earth as an organism whose
health depends on the health of all its parts. We have the power to reconcile human affairs
with natural laws and to thrive in the process.
K. Bosselmann (*)
Faculty of Law, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
e-mail: k.bosselmann@auckland.ac.nz
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive licence to
Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
L. Westra et al. (eds.), Ecological Integrity in Science and Law,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46259-8_20
The Role of Trusteeship in Earth
Governance
Klaus Bosselmann
Abstract The call for institutionalizing Earth trusteeship cannot easily be reconciled with state sovereignty. The concept of state sovereignty emerged at a time of
great distances and absolute national autonomy. However, in a globalized, interconnected world utterly depending on the integrity of Earth’s ecological systems, absolute territorial sovereignty is counterproductive and potentially life threatening. The
chapter argues that the time is right for reconceptualizing state sovereignty.
Sovereignty includes not just fiduciary and trusteeship obligations towards the
state’s own citizens, but also towards humanity at large and Earth as a whole. The
UN Agenda 2030 with its Sustainable Development Goals offer a window opportunity for institutionalizing Earth trusteeship at international and national levels. A
critical tool for achieving this has been the adoption of the “Hague Principles for a
Universal Declaration on Responsibilities for Human Rights and Earth Trusteeship”
in the Peace Palace, The Hague, on the day of the 70th anniversary of the Universal
Declaration for Human Rights (10 December 2018).
1 Introduction
The 1987 Brundtland Report is known for having introduced the concept of sustainable development. Less known is this sentiment expressed at the beginning of the
report (Brundtland Report 1987, p. 1):
In the middle of the 20
th century, we saw our planet from space for the first time. Historians
may eventually find that this view had a greater impact on thought than did the Copernican
revolution of the 16
th century (…). We can see and study the Earth as an organism whose
health depends on the health of all its parts. We have the power to reconcile human affairs
with natural laws and to thrive in the process.
K. Bosselmann (*)
Faculty of Law, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
e-mail: k.bosselmann@auckland.ac.nz