STOCKHOLM PRINCIPLES

Principle 1 : Man has the fundamental right to serious or irreversible damage is not inflicted upon
freedom, equality and adequate conditions of life, ecosystems. The just struggle of the peoples of all
in an environment of a quality that permits a life of countries against pollution should be supported.
dignity and well-being, and he bears a solemn
Principle 7: States shall take all possible steps to
responsibility to protect and improve the
prevent pollution of the seas by substances that
environment for present and future generations.
are liable to create hazards to human health, to
In this respect, policies promoting or perpetuating harm living resources and marine life, to damage
apartheid, racial segregation, discrimination, amenities or to interfere with other legitimate uses
colonial and other forms of oppression and foreign of the sea.
domination stand condemned and must be
Principle 8: Economic and social development is
eliminated.
essential for ensuring a favourable living and
Principle 2: The natural resources of the earth, working environment for man and for creating
including the air, water, land, flora and fauna and conditions on earth that are necessary for the
especially representative samples of natural improvement of the quality of life.
ecosystems, must be safeguarded for the benefit of
Principle 9: Environmental deficiencies generated
present and future generations through careful
by the conditions of under-development and
planning or management, as appropriate.
natural disasters pose grave problems and can best
Principle 3: The capacity of the earth to produce be remedied by accelerated development through
vital renewable resources must be maintained and, the transfer of substantial quantities of financial
wherever practicable, restored or improved. and technological assistance as a supplement to
the domestic effort of the developing countries and
Principle 4: Man has a special responsibility to
such timely assistance as may be required.
safeguard and wisely manage the heritage of
wildlife and its habitat, which are now gravely Principle 10: For the developing countries, stability
imperilled by a combination of adverse factors. of prices and adequate earnings for primary
Nature conservation, including wildlife, must commodities and raw materials are essential to
therefore receive importance in planning for environmental management since economic
economic development. factors as well as ecological processes must be,
taken into account.
Principle 5: The non-renewable resources of the
earth must be employed in such a way as to guard Principle 11: The environmental policies of all
against the danger of their future exhaustion and States should enhance and not adversely affect the
to ensure that benefits from such employment are present or future development potential of
shared by all mankind. developing countries, nor should they hamper the
attainment of better living conditions for all, and
Principle 6: The discharge of toxic substances or of
appropriate steps should be taken by States and
other substances and the release of heat, in such
international organizations with a view to reaching
quantities or concentrations as to exceed the
agreement on meeting the possible national and
capacity of the environment to render them
harmless, must be halted in order to ensure that
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international economic consequences resulting Principle 17: Appropriate national institutions must
from the application of environmental measures. be entrusted with the task of planning, managing
or controlling the environmental resources of
Principle 12: Resources should be made available
States with a view to enhancing environmental
to preserve and improve the environment, taking
quality.
into account the circumstances and particular
requirements of developing countries and any Principle 18: Science and technology, as part of
costs which may emanate from their incorporating their contribution to economic and social
environmental safeguards into their development development, must be applied to the identification,
planning and the need for making available to avoidance and control of environmental risks and
them, upon their request, additional international the solution of environmental problems and for the
technical and financial assistance for this purpose. common good of mankind.
Principle 13: In order to achieve a more rational Principle 19: Education in environmental matters,
management of resources and thus to improve the for the younger generation as well as adults, giving
environment, States should adopt an integrated due consideration to the underprivileged, is
and co-ordinated approach to their development essential in order to broaden the basis for an
planning so as to ensure that development is enlightened opinion and responsible conduct by
compatible with the need to protect and improve individuals, enterprises and communities in
environment for the benefit of their population. protecting and improving the environment in its
full human dimension. It is also essential that mass
Principle 14: Rational planning constitutes an
media of communications avoid contributing to the
essential tool for reconciling any conflict between
deterioration of the environment, but, on the
the needs of development and the need to protect
contrary, disseminate information of an
and improve the environment.
educational nature on the need to protect and
Principle 15 : Planning must be applied to human improve the environment in order to enable man
settlements and urbanization with a view to to develop in every respect.
avoiding adverse effects on the environment and
Principle 20: Scientific research and development
obtaining maximum social, economic and
in the context of environmental problems, both
environmental benefits for all. In this respect,
national and multinational, must be promoted in all
projects which are designed for colonialist and
countries, especially the developing countries. In
racist domination must be abandoned.
this connection, the free flow of up-to-date
Principle 16: Demographic policies which are scientific information and transfer of experience
without prejudice to basic human rights and which must be supported and assisted, to facilitate the
are deemed appropriate by Governments solution of environmental problems;
concerned should be applied in those regions environmental technologies should be made
where the rate of population growth or excessive available to developing countries on terms which
population concentrations are likely to have would encourage their wide dissemination without
adverse effects on the environment of the human constituting an economic burden on the
environment and impede development. developing countries.

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Principle 21: States have, in accordance with the Principle 25: States shall ensure that international
Charter of the United Nations and the principles of organizations play a co-ordinated, efficient and
international law, the sovereign right to exploit dynamic role for the protection and improvement
their own resources pursuant to their own of the environment.
environmental policies, and the responsibility to
Principle 26: Man and his environment must be
ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or
spared the effects of nuclear weapons and all other
control do not cause damage to the environment
means of mass destruction. States must strive to
of other States or of areas beyond the limits of
reach prompt agreement, in the relevant
national jurisdiction.
international organs, on the elimination and
complete destruction of such weapons.
Principle 22: States shall co-operate to develop
further the international law regarding liability and CERES Principles
compensation for the victims of pollution and On September 7, 1989, Coalition for Environmentally
other environmental damage caused by activities Responsible Economies (Ceres) announced a set of
within the jurisdiction or control of such States to ten principles for corporate environmental conduct. The
areas beyond their jurisdiction. CERES Principles are entirely voluntary. The CERES
Principles recognize that sustainable use of natural
Principle 23: Without prejudice to such criteria as
resources is ultimately necessary for corporate survival.
may be agreed upon by the international
community, or to standards which will have to be These Principles establish an environmental ethic with
determined nationally, it will be essential in all criteria by which investors and others can assess the
cases to consider the systems of values prevailing environmental performance of companies.
in each country, and the extent of the applicability 1. Protection of the Biosphere
of standards which are valid for the most advanced
2. Sustainable Use of Natural Resources
countries but which may be inappropriate and of
unwarranted social cost for the developing 3. Reduction and Disposal of Wastes
countries.
4. Energy Conservation
Principle 24: International matters concerning the
5. Risk Reduction
protection and improvement of the environment
should be handled in a co-operative spirit by all 6. Safe Products and Services
countries, big and small, on an equal footing. Co- 7. Environmental Restoration
operation through multilateral or bilateral
arrangements or other appropriate means is 8. Informing the Public
essential to effectively control, prevent, reduce and 9. Management Commitment
eliminate adverse environmental effects resulting
10. Audits and Reports
from activities conducted in all spheres, in such a
way that due account is taken of the sovereignty
and interests of all States.