The role of trusteeship in earth governance

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).