Environmental trusteeship and state sovereignty: can they be reconciled?
Klaus Bosselmann
Abstract
The call for 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. In a globalised, interconnected world that utterly depends on the integrity of Earth’s ecological systems, absolute territorial sovereignty is counterproductive and potentially life threatening. Arguably, the time is right for reconceptualisation 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 current UN reform process including Agenda 2030 offers a window opportunity for institutionalising Earth trusteeship at international and national levels.