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

 

 

How the Declaration is revised

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The Declaration sets one constitutional objective, stated in Principle II: the integrity of the Earth system "must have superior legal rank wherever its functioning is at risk". This priority applies "where actions or decisions can materially undermine the functioning of the Earth system". This objective is fixed. Together with the eight principles of version 1.6, it forms the common basis for all signatories.

 

Version 1.6 is the current authoritative version. It remains unchanged and is the sole reference text until a revised version is formally adopted. Revisions are prepared through a defined consultation, not through open-ended debate. Comments and proposals are collected ahead of the international symposium planned for 2027, reviewed, grouped and consolidated into a draft. The symposium examines the consolidated draft. A revised version may be adopted only under a consultation procedure published before the symposium. That procedure will define who decides, how decisions are made, how submissions are assessed, and which changes are editorial or substantive.

 

The consultation may refine the wording of the principles, their safeguards, the institutional design and the paths to implementation. Objections to the constitutional objective may be submitted and documented, but the consultation does not reopen that objective. Proposals that are not adopted do not suspend or alter version 1.6. Signing version 1.6 means supporting its eight principles and its constitutional objective.

 

It does not imply endorsement of every institutional proposal in the companion document, related publications or future drafts. A signature remains attached to the version signed. Editorial corrections that do not change meaning, scope or obligation require no renewed consent. A signatory is listed as supporting a later substantive version only after explicit confirmation.

 

Comments and proposals may be sent to:       mail@constitutionofearth.org​

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Donald C. Jacob

Verein Constitution of Earth, Basel

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