Earth Charter International Council: Organization, Responsibilities, and Nomination Procedures
The Earth Charter International Council is the main international governing body of the Earth Charter Initiative. The Council provides leadership and guidance to the broader Earth Charter community, and provides governance and oversight for Earth Charter International (the coordinating secretariat).
The ECI Council was formed in March, 2006, as the successor to the Steering Committee of the Earth Charter Commission. The Commission entrusted the Council to carry on the work of leading and guiding the Earth Charter Initiative. The Commission retains authority over the text of the Earth Charter itself.
ECI Council members are recommended by the broader Earth Charter community, and nominated by the Council's Nominating Committee. The Council selects its members to serve three-year terms. Members may be renewed for a second three-year term, but there is a limit of two consecutive terms before a Member must stand down from the Council.
Council members serve as volunteers. If they require it, their travel expenses for meeting attendance will be reimbursed by ECI; but otherwise Council Members do not receive financial compensation for their service.
To recommend someone to be considered by the Nominating Committee, please send an email to Lisa Öberg, loberg [AT] earthcharter [DOT] org, in our Stockholm office. The letter should include:
- A brief statement (1 page or less) of why the person should be selected
- A brief biography or CV (2 pages or less)
- Full contact information for the person you are recommending
Below, you will find the full text of the Council's "Guidelines for Organization and Operation" as well as the official statement of Council responsibilities.
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Guidelines for the Organization and Operation of the Earth Charter International Council
Version 2.0
As adopted by the Council on 10 April 2006
A. Membership
1. The Council shall have no fewer than 15 members and no more than 25. The membership of the Council shall reflect geographical distribution, cultural diversity, gender and age balance, and diverse spheres of professional expertise relevant to the goals and programs of the Earth Charter Initiative.
2. Council members shall be elected for a three-year term and may serve two three-year terms after which they may not be reelected to the Council for at least one year. There will be three classes of Council members with staggered terms so as to ensure some continuity in membership.
3. In the case of any vacancy on the Council for any cause, the Council may elect a new member to hold office for the unexpired term of the Council member whose position has become vacant.
B. Officers
1. The Council shall have a chair or co-chairs and such additional officers as the Council may decide—for example, a vice chair, treasurer, and secretary.
2. Meetings will be chaired by the chair or co-chairs. In the absence of the chair or co-chairs, the vice chair will chair a meeting, if a vice chair has been elected.
C. Meetings
1. The Council shall hold at least one meeting a year at a time and place to be determined by the chair. co-chairs, or Council.
2. Notice of meetings will go out to Council members at least one month prior to the meeting and significantly earlier whenever possible. However, in the case of a special meeting called to address an urgent issue, notice may go out only ten days in advance of the meeting.
3. One of the regular Council meetings will be an annual meeting at which officers (including the chair or co-chairs and the chief executive officer for Earth Charter International) and Council members are elected.
4. Additional meetings of the Council may be called by the chair or co-chairs, the Council, or a group of five or more Council members.
5. The presence at a meeting of half the members of the Council or more shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A Council member participating by telephone conference call shall be considered present.
6. The chair or co-chairs will make every effort to develop a consensus on important issues. When the person chairing a meeting believes that a consensus may have been reached, he/she may call a test vote to determine if all Council members present are in agreement. If a vote reveals that a consensus has been reached, the chair will declare that there is a consensus and the matter has been decided. If the test vote reveals that there is not a consensus, the chair may continue the Council’s deliberations on the matter under consideration or postpone further discussion to a later date. If the chair determines that a decision on the matter under consideration must be made without further delay in order to resolve urgent business of Earth Charter International, the chair may put the matter to a formal vote. Under these circumstances, a majority of those present at a meeting is sufficient to approve or defeat a resolution. A formal vote will involve determining those who are in favor, opposed, and abstaining.
7. As a general rule, resolutions proposed for adoption by the Council will be presented to the Council in writing.
8. When there are compelling reasons to do so, Council meetings may be conducted by conference telephone or another similar mode of communication that allows all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time.
9. When a Council member is not able to attend a meeting, he/she may send a representative. Representatives of Council members may participate in Council discussions, but do not have a vote.
10. At least once a year, the Council will meet in executive session during one of its meetings.
11. Minutes of each Council meeting will be prepared, distributed to the Council members, and submitted for the members’ approval at the next Council meeting.
D. Action by Unanimous Written Consent
1. The Council may take action without a formal meeting at any time by the unanimous written consent of all its members (an e-mail will suffice) to a written resolution authorizing action of the kind that might be taken at a regular meeting.
E. Committees
1. The Council shall appoint an Executive Committee of five to eight members to transact business on behalf on the Council between meetings. The Executive Committee will be chaired by the chair or a co-chair of the Council and will report to the Council on all actions taken by the committee at the next meeting of the Council.
2. The Council shall appoint a Nominating Committee of three to five persons that presents nominations for Council membership.
3. The Council shall create such other committees as the chair, co-chairs, or Council decides are needed. The Council will prepare a written statement of the responsibilities of all committees.
F. Reimbursement of Council Members
1. Members of the Council shall not receive compensation for their service on the Council but may be reimbursed for travel and lodging expenses directly related to Council meetings.
G. Annual Report
1. The Council will issue an annual report on the activities of the Council and Earth Charter International, including a financial report. The annual report will be prepared by the CEO and senior management team under the oversight of the chair or co-chairs and Council.
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Responsibilities of the Earth Charter International Council
Version 2.0
As adopted by the Council on 10 April 2006
The Earth Charter International Council (hereafter referred to as “the Council”) is responsible for providing leadership in support of the mission of the Earth Charter Initiative, which is to establish a sound ethical foundation for the emerging global society and to help build a sustainable world based on Earth Charter values. The Council has responsibility for overseeing the activities of Earth Charter International, which includes the Center for Strategy and Communications and the Center for Education for Sustainable Development, and for overseeing the progress of the larger Earth Charter Initiative.
More specifically, the responsibilities of the Council and its members are to:
1. Elect the members of the Council.
2. Elect a chair or co-chair of the Council and such other officers as the Council decides are appropriate, such as a vice chair, treasurer, and secretary.
3. Appoint the chief executive officer of Earth Charter International and oversee the activities of the CEO.
4. Appoint an Executive Committee of five to eight members to act on behalf of the Council between meetings and a Nominating Committee of three to five members.
5. Create such other committees as the Council may decide are necessary. The responsibilities of each committee should be carefully defined.
6. Define the mission of the Earth Charter Initiative and revise the mission statement as appropriate.
7. Approve an annual operating budget for Earth Charter International. An operating budget will be prepared by the executive director and submitted to the Council for its review and approval.
8. Set major policies and strategic guidelines for Earth Charter International and approve major programs and partnerships. The CEO and senior management team will bring their recommendations for new policies, strategic guidelines, programs, and partnerships to the Council for approval.
9. Undertake long-range planning, working together with the CEO and senior management team.
10. Approve a fundraising strategy that promises to meet the financial needs of Earth Charter International and support the fundraising initiatives of the Council and Earth Charter International.
11. Promote and monitor an ongoing worldwide, cross cultural dialogue on the Earth Charter and global ethics. Ensure that criticisms and misinterpretations of the Charter are carefully analyzed and that appropriate responses are made to attacks on, or misinformation about, the Earth Charter when a response will serve a good purpose from the perspective of the mission of the Earth Charter Initiative.
12. Ensure that the Earth Charter, the Earth Charter Initiative logo, and the titles “Earth Charter International” and “Earth Charter Initiative” have appropriate legal protection.
13. Provide leadership that keeps the activities of the Council, Earth Charter International, and Earth Charter Initiative in accord with the values of the Earth Charter.
14. Confirm appointment of Earth Charter Ambassadors who have been nominated by the executive management team or Council members.
15. Keep well informed regarding the activities of Earth Charter International and the Earth Charter Initiative.
16. Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the Council.
17. Provide leadership and support for Earth Charter activities locally and regionally and, as appropriate, globally.
18. Be available to provide advice to the Earth Charter International staff.
19. Ensure that the Earth Charter Commission receives the annual report of Earth Charter International and is kept informed of major developments, especially with reference to the dialogue and debate surrounding the Earth Charter document.
20. Prepare and revise as appropriate a set of guidelines for the organization and operation of the Council.