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Declaration for an Earth Constitution

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The Earth system is the basis of everything and holds the lowest rank in our institutions. The Declaration asks for one thing: that the functioning of the Earth system receives superior legal rank wherever it is at risk, made effective by planetary institutions with a narrow mandate, democratic legitimacy and independent judicial review. A constitution, not a government. Eight principles on two pages.

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Read the Declaration (v1.6, 25 September 2026, Zenodo): https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22960459

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Initial signatories


All in a personal capacity. Affiliations are listed for identification only and imply no endorsement by an institution. In order of signing.

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  • Dr Klaus Bosselmann, Professor Emeritus of Law, University of Auckland, New Zealand

  • Prof. Dr. med. Eric Bonvin, psychiatrist and psychotherapist, social and cultural anthropologist, University of Lausanne, Switzerland

  • Dr Jean Martin, MD, MSPH, public health physician, former member of the Swiss Federal Commission on Biomedical Ethics, former member of the Canton of Vaud Parliament, Switzerland

  • Prof. honoraire Dominique Bourg, University of Lausanne, Switzerland

  • Nnimmo Bassey, Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nigeria

  • Professor Ngozi Unuigbe, Professor of International Environmental Law, Policy and Ethics, University of Benin, Nigeria

  • Luc Recordon, physicist-engineer (dipl. EPFL), attorney, Doctor of Law, former member of the Swiss Council of States, Switzerland

  • Prof. Carlos A. Nobre, Professor Emeritus of Climate and Sustainability, University of São Paulo, Brazil

  • Christophe Gallaz, writer and columnist, Switzerland

  • Beat Toniolo, artist and cultural mediator, Switzerland

  • GB Langa, sustainability writer and publisher, Founder and Group CEO, The Langa Family Investments group, South Africa

  • Dr Roxy Mathew Koll, Climate Scientist, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, India

  • Katherine Richardson, Professor in Biological Oceanography, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

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As of 16 October 2026: thirteen initial signatories from seven countries.

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Next


The initial circle is presented in Basel on 22 October 2026, at a first open evening of talks. An international symposium is planned for 2027.

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If you share the question of rank and want to carry the Declaration as an initial signatory, write to me: mail@constitutionofearth.org

 

Donald C. Jacob

Verein Constitution of Earth, Basel

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