The report discusses the extent to which universal values can be agreed upon, exemplified by an empirical analysis of values contained implicitly and explicitly in UN treaties and international statements on the environment. The texts examined include the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the
Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (WHC), the United Nation’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), The Kyoto Protocol, The Earth Charter, The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),
and the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (UDBHR). Some of the ethical values found in the texts include: human rights, sustainability, equity, common but differentiated responsibilities, precaution, participation, vulnerability, state sovereignty, peace and solidarity