The Talloires Declaration
The TALLOIRES
DECLARATION is a
statement of principles
and practices for using
higher education to
promote sustainability.
Over 350 universities
throughout the world
have signed the
Declaration so far. MSUM
signed it in the spring
of 2006 during it's
Earth Day celebration,
it was signed by
University President
Rolland Barden and
Student Senate President
James Cailao.
The declaration is as
follows:
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.
Signed by MSUM President
Roland E. Barden and
Student Senate President
James Cailao on Earth
Day April 22, 2005.
