University Leaders for a Sustainable Future  [Printer-friendly version]
October 15, 1990

THE TALLOIRES DECLARATION

[Rachel's introduction: An historic attempt to define and promote
sustainability in higher education was made in October 1990 with the
creation of the Talloires Declaration. Jean Mayer, the President of
Tufts University, convened twenty-two university presidents and
chancellors in Talloires, France, to voice their concerns about the
state of the world and create a document that spelled out key actions
institutions of higher education must take to create a sustainable
future. Your college or university can sign the Declaration; a
Talloires Declaration resource kit is available here.]

We, the presidents, rectors, and vice chancellors of universities from
all regions of the world are deeply concerned about the unprecedented
scale and speed of environmental pollution and degradation, and the
depletion of natural resources.

Local, regional, and global air and water pollution; accumulation and
distribution of toxic wastes; destruction and depletion of forests,
soil, and water; depletion of the ozone layer and emission of "green
house" gases threaten the survival of humans and thousands of other
living species, the integrity of the earth and its biodiversity, the
security of nations, and the heritage of future generations. These
environmental changes are caused by inequitable and unsustainable
production and consumption patterns that aggravate poverty in many
regions of the world.

We believe that urgent actions are needed to address these fundamental
problems and reverse the trends. Stabilization of human population,
adoption of environmentally sound industrial and agricultural
technologies, reforestation, and ecological restoration are crucial
elements in creating an equitable and sustainable future for all
humankind in harmony with nature.

Universities have a major role in the education, research, policy
formation, and information exchange necessary to make these goals
possible. Thus, university leaders must initiate and support
mobilization of internal and external resources so that their
institutions respond to this urgent challenge.

We, therefore, agree to take the following actions:

1. Increase Awareness of Environmentally Sustainable Development
Use every opportunity to raise public, government, industry,
foundation, and university awareness by openly addressing the urgent
need to move toward an environmentally sustainable future.

2. Create an Institutional Culture of Sustainability
Encourage all universities to engage in education, research, policy
formation, and information exchange on population, environment, and
development to move toward global sustainability.

3. Educate for Environmentally Responsible Citizenship
Establish programs to produce expertise in environmental management,
sustainable economic development, population, and related fields to
ensure that all university graduates are environmentally literate and
have the awareness and understanding to be ecologically responsible
citizens.

4. Foster Environmental Literacy For All
Create programs to develop the capability of university faculty to
teach environmental literacy to all undergraduate, graduate, and
professional students.

5. Practice Institutional Ecology
Set an example of environmental responsibility by establishing
institutional ecology policies and practices of resource conservation,
recycling, waste reduction, and environmentally sound operations.

6. Involve All Stakeholders
Encourage involvement of government, foundations, and industry in
supporting interdisciplinary research, education, policy formation,
and information exchange in environmentally sustainable development.
Expand work with community and nongovernmental organizations to assist
in finding solutions to environmental problems.

7. Collaborate for Interdisciplinary Approaches
Convene university faculty and administrators with environmental
practitioners to develop interdisciplinary approaches to curricula,
research initiatives, operations, and outreach activities that support
an environmentally sustainable future.

8. Enhance Capacity of Primary and Secondary Schools
Establish partnerships with primary and secondary schools to help
develop the capacity for interdisciplinary teaching about population,
environment, and sustainable development.

9. Broaden Service and Outreach Nationally and Internationally
Work with national and international organizations to promote a
worldwide university effort toward a sustainable future.

10. Maintain the Movement

Establish a Secretariat and a steering committee to continue this
momentum, and to inform and support each other's efforts in carrying
out this declaration.

Creators and Original Signatories

Jean Mayer, President
Tufts University, U.S.A.
(Conference Convener)

Pablo Arce, Vice Chancellor
Universidad Autonoma de Centro America, Costa Rica

L. Ayo Banjo, Vice Chancellor
University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Boonrod Binson, Chancellor
Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

Robert W. Charlton, Vice Chancellor & Principal
University of Witwatersrand, South Africa

Constantine W. Curris, President
University of Northern Iowa, U.S.A.

Michele Gendreau-Massaloux, Rector
l'Academie de Paris, France

Mario Ojeda Gomez, President
Colegio de Mexico, Mexico

Adamu Nayaya Mohammed, Vice Chancellor
Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria

Augusto Frederico Muller, President
Fundacao Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Brazil

Calvin H. Plimpton, President Emeritus
American University of Beirut, Lebanon

Wesley Posvar, President
University of Pittsburgh, U.S.A.

T. Navaneeth Rao, Vice Chancellor
Osmania University, India

Moonis Raza, Vice Chanc ellor Emeritus
University of New Delhi, India

Pavel D. Sarkisov, Rector
D. I. Mendeleev Institute of Chemical Technology U.S.S.R.

Stuart Saunders, Vice Chancellor & Principal
University of Cape Town, South Africa

Akilagpa Sawyerr, Vice Chancellor
University of Ghana, Ghana

Carlos Vogt, President
Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil

David Ward, Vice Chancellor
University of Wisconsin-Madison, U.S.A.

Xide Xie, President Emeritus
Fudan University, People's Republic of China

University Leaders for a Sustainable Future (ULSF), 2100 "L" Street,
NW, Washington, DC 20037 USA Tel. 202-778-6133; Fax 202-778-6138

Copyright 2001 by ULSF