Green Cross International (GCI)

Green Cross International is a global non-governmental organization  active in more than 30 countries. Its goal is to promote a just, sustainable and secure future for all. Its unique mission is to address the combined challenges of security, poverty and environmental degradation.             Green Cross: Focuses on fundamental human values that transcend cultural differences: respect, care, solidarity, integrity, equality and non- violence. Works to prevent and resolve conflicts over scarce natural resources and assists people affected by the environmental effects of wars, conflicts and disasters. Promotes and advocates for genuine value and behaviour changes necessary to build a sustainable global community. Encourages global “glasnost”, or public openness, providing unbiased environmental analysis and expertise, information dissemination, education, objective evaluations for public debate, scientific studies, and social and humanitarian support.   Green Cross International (GCI) was formally launched in Kyoto, Japan, on 18 April 1993. On the invitation of Mikhail Gorbachev, many renowned figures joined and continue to serve on its Board of Directors and Honorary Board.   Green Cross International enjoys consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. GCI is an admitted observer organization with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.  It also cooperates directly with the UNEP/OCHA Environmental Emergencies Section, UN-HABITAT and other international organizations.     Our Mission The mission of Green Cross International is to respond to the combined challenges of security, poverty and environmental degradation to ensure a sustainable and secure future. We seek solutions through dialogue, mediation and co-operation. To achieve this we: Promote legal, ethical and behavioural norms that ensure basic changes in the values, actions and attitudes of government, the private sector and civil society, necessary to develop a sustainable global community; Contribute to the prevention and resolution of conflicts arising from environmental degradation; Provide assistance to people affected by the environmental consequences of wars, conflicts and man made calamities.     Our areas of activity Changing values Green Cross promotes legal, ethical and behavioral norms that aim to change the values, actions and attitudes of government, the private sector, civil society and people at large so to ensure a sustainable future for humanity. To do this, we operate three initiatives under our Value Change programme: Education for Environmental Sustainability Promoting the values of the Earth Charter Organizing Earth Dialogues   Discover more about our Value Change programme   Preventing and resolving conflicts over natural resources Green Cross works to prevent and resolve conflicts arising from environmental degradation and the growing demand for increasingly scarce natural resources with a focus on addressing the global water and energy challenges. Learn more about our Water for Life and Peace andSmart Energy programmes.    Addressing environmental consequences of wars, conflicts and man-made calamities We actively support global and national campaigns to the safe and environmentally sound elimination of weapons of mass destruction and also mitigate the social, health and environmental impacts of conflicts, as well as nuclear, chemical, and biological contamination. Find out more on our Environmental Security and Sustainability (ESS), and Social and Medical(SOCMED) programmes.     Our Charter The Green Cross International Charter, updated at our General Assembly held in 2010, states: "Life is precious. All forms of life have their own intrinsic value and share our planetary home in an interdependent community in which all parts are essential to the functioning of the whole. We have a moral and ethical obligation to preserve life in its integrity and maintain our planet's health and security for present and future generations.   As the issues of climate change and environmental degradation bring about a much needed wake up call to modern society with the realization that the global challenges of security, poverty and the environment are intrinsically connected, Green Cross International will focus its activities on this critical nexus in the quest for a just, secure and sustainable future for humanity.”