STATUTE

 

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF THE
“INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES”

 

Article 1 - NAME AND LOGO
The “INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES” (henceforth called the Academy) is hereby established in Venice, with its registered office at ex Convento dei Servi di Maria, Campo della Chiesa 3, Sant’Elena, 30122 Venice. The Academy is an autonomous international scientific association founded by a group of scientists of different nationalities and distinguished experts in different disciplines (henceforth called the Founding Members), having the aim of pursuing the purposes listed in the following Article without commercial gain.
The Academy may open other branches. It is already planned to open branches in Rome, Italy, and Brussels, Belgium.
The Academy’s logo represents a woman and a man in the foreground and the terrestrial globe in the background, with the words “INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES” around the circular border. The logo is shown below:

 

Article 2 - PURPOSE
The Academy intends to promote the improvement and the harmonic development of mankind and the environment.
The purposes of the Academy are:
1. to identify, support and promote excellence in scientific research on the environment by scientists of all nationalities and to encourage research and development in environmental matters;
2. to promote contacts and relationships between researchers and manage all types of teaching and study, using all available means to disseminate and transmit data and principles relating to the juridical and scientific aspects of the environment and to Communications Sciences in the international scientific community and the populations concerned;
3. to promote publications dealing with science, technology and the development of the environment theme;
4. also on the basis of theoretical research, to promote plans of study, research programmes and experimental projects and actions with the purpose of certifying and monitoring the environment.
5. to perform acts involving the practical safeguarding and harmonic evolution of the environment, in cooperation with institutions and organisations or groups at a local, regional, national or international level that pursue similar purposes or even only one of such purposes;
6. to promote a wide-ranging process of education at all levels with a view to increasing the information available on environment problems.
7. to promote initiatives whose purpose is to request the support of any state bodies responsible for any kind of agreement, directive, rule or national or international treaty relating to the protection of the environment.
8. to promote all initiatives that foster the protection of human rights.
9. to promote all initiatives supporting the creation of an International Court for the Environment.
10. to promote initiatives supporting the creation of a Permanent Centre for Environmental Studies.
11. to promote and support initiatives – firstly at a local and regional level and then at a national and international level – which will reinforce the protection of environmental resources.
12. to promote initiatives to support the integration of the new EU Member States with regard to compliance with Community environment protection legislation.
13. to promote the study, recovery, preservation and appreciation of the historical and artistic heritage of Venice, as well as the world’s natural, historical and artistic heritage.
14. to promote the study, recovery, preservation and appreciation of the Venetian ecosystem as a laboratory and an important juridical and scientific resource for environmental research and study.

Article 3 – MEMBERS
The Members of the Academy are grouped in the following categories:
a) Founding Members:
Those persons who assisted in drafting the Memorandum of Association of the Academy or who confirmed their acceptance of its Articles of Association, even if only by e-mail or fax.
The title of Founding Member may be given to those who, called upon by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman for a particular reason, have declared that they accept the Academy’s Articles of Association.
b) Ordinary Members:
These are the scientists of any nationality who have gained the highest respect of the international scientific community and who, after accepting the Academy’s Articles of Association, may be elected according to the procedure explained in the following Article.
c) Honorary Members:
These are eminent persons who have made high-quality contributions to the objectives of the Academy.
They are elected by the Management Committee by a unanimous vote and by a majority of at least three-fifths of the Members.
Each Member must take an active part in the Association’s activities.
Loss of Membership.
The position of Member of the Academy will lapse after death, resignation or exclusion.
The Management Committee has the right to exclude an Ordinary or Honorary Member at any moment provided that the measure is justified.
The decision to exclude a Member may be adopted for one of the following reasons:
- failure to comply with the Articles of Association;
- conflict of interest between the Member's position and the other functions he fulfils;
- acting in a manner contrary to the purposes pursued by the Academy.
The excluded Member may appeal against the exclusion in writing, giving their reasons up to 30 days from receiving notice of the measure.
If the Management Committee rejects the appeal, the excluded Member can make a further appeal at the next General Meeting, which will take a final decision on the matter.

Article 4 – ELECTION OF MEMBERS
The procedure for the election of Members is as follows.
Applications for membership are addressed to the Management Committee, and consist in a form compiled by one or more Members, who support the application with the appropriate information regarding the candidate.
The Committee submits the application with the information and its comments to the appropriate Membership Assessment Committee, which examines the application and expresses its opinion to the Management Committee. After receiving an assurance that the candidate will observe the Articles of Association of the Academy after being elected, the Management Committee votes on the application in a secret ballot at which at least two-thirds of its members must be present. If the result of the vote is favourable, the Committee informs the existing Members accordingly, inviting them to make their comments within 15 days by post or e-mail.
After any comments by Members have been taken into consideration, the Chairman is responsible for the final decision on whether the candidate is accepted or rejected. The Chairman’s decision may not be challenged.

Article 5 – THE BODIES OF THE ACADEMY
The following are the Bodies of the Academy:
1) the General Meeting
2) the Management Committee
3) the Chairman
4) the Treasurer
5) the Secretary-General
6) the General Manager

Article 6 – GENERAL MEETING
A General Meeting must be held at least once a year to approve the financial statements; whenever the Management Committee deems it necessary; and if at least one-quarter of the Members requests such a Meeting.
At least half of the Members plus one must attend in order for the General Meeting to be valid.
Resolutions are carried by a majority of votes except in particular cases provided for in the Articles of Association.
Each Member must be given at least ten days’ notice of the General Meeting and the notice, which may also be sent by e-mail, must contain the agenda and the day, time and venue of the Meeting.
The Meeting may also be held through the Members’ approval of the scientific and financial reports transmitted to the Members – by e-mail or fax - by the Chairman’s office at their addresses as previously verified by the Academy Secretariat.
The details of the procedure are as follows:
(a) a form filled in by the Chairman is sent, containing the above-mentioned reports as separate items; the items may be approved or not approved separately;
(b) the name of the voting Member is shown;
(c) there is also a section for any observations or proposals (for example, action to support the Court Project and/or subjects around which to arrange conferences, seminars and study days).
When the form is returned and received by the Academy Secretariat by fax or e-mail, this will constitute full evidence of a lawfully expressed vote.

Article 7 – MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
The Management Committee has the widest powers for the governance of the Academy. It is made up of a minimum of 5 (five) and a maximum of 11 (eleven) Members appointed by the General Meeting from candidates selected by a Committee of Founding Members chaired by the Deputy Chairman, who will be the Chairman of the Management Committee.
The General Meeting will decide the number of members of the Management Committee each time one is appointed.
The Management Committee, which will be composed of the Chairman, three Vice-Chairmen (one of whom will act as Deputy Chairman), the General Manager and a Treasurer, must also include two Ordinary Members.
The first Management Committee will be appointed and the above positions will be allocated in the Academy’s Memorandum of Association and two Ordinary Members will then be appointed according to the procedure for the election of Members described in Article 4 above.
The Members of the Management Committee will serve for a period of 5 (five) years and will be eligible for re-election.
The Management Committee will arrange to cover any vacant position caused by the death, resignation or incapacity of one of its Members for the period that remains until the following General Meeting.
The Management Committee may set up temporary or permanent committees to fulfil any functions that become appropriate. The Committee whose responsibility it is to appoint the members of the Management Committee and of the Membership Assessment Committee are chosen by the General Meeting.
The Committee will establish the policy governing the Academy’s publications and will designate a publishing manager.
The Committee may give medals and other awards to researchers and scientists who are considered worthy by committees of experts.
The Management Committee will meet at least once a year; if the Management Committee considers it necessary, it may avail itself of the Scientific Committee mentioned in Article 11 below.

Article 8 – CHAIRMAN
The Chairman attends General and Management Committee Meetings, presiding over them, and, on these occasions, describes the Academy’s activities.
In his absence, the Chairman is represented by the Deputy Chairman or or one of the Vice-Chairmen.
The Chairman and the Vice-Chairman acting as Deputy Chairman will, severally, be the Academy’s authorised representatives.

Article 8 bis – GENERAL MANAGER
The General Manager is appointed by the Management Committee on the proposal of the Deputy Chairman and holds, as delegated by the Deputy Chairman in consultation with the Chairman of the Scientific Committee, of powers of active governance as specified in these Articles of Association. With the authorisation of the Management Committee, he may take any action, including legal action, to protect the Academy’s rights and interests and/or the purposes it pursues. He may also negotiate and enter into sponsorship agreements and may also, in consultation with the Secretary-General, formalise agreements with public and private entities.
Such institutional relations shall be governed by guidelines and/or directives approved by the Management Committee or, if so delegated by the Committee, by the Chairman or Deputy Chairman.
The General Manager attends and has the right to vote in Management Committee meetings.
He takes the place of the Deputy Chairman in the latter’s absence and is the Academy’s authorised representative.
He serves for 5 years from the date of his appointment.

ARTICLE 9 – TREASURER
The Treasurer is responsible for the Academy’s finances in accordance with the Management Committee’s directives, and takes account of special agreements made with other organisations and institutions.
The Treasurer presents the Academy’s state of affairs to the Committee on a yearly basis and whenever the Committee deems it necessary.
The Treasurer prepares and presents the annual financial statements and the audited accounts to the Management Committee and the General Meeting.
The Treasurer, who is authorised to sub-delegate his duties, is appointed by the Management Committee.

Article 10 – SECRETARY-GENERAL
The Secretary-General, appointed by the Management Committee, is a consulting and supporting body to the Chairman and Deputy Chairman.
He is elected for three years and may be re-elected. The Management Committee may dismiss the Secretary-General from office if necessary.

Article 11 –SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
The Scientific Committee is composed of eminent scientists and persons who have distinguished themselves by acts of unquestionable cultural and social value for the study, enhancement and protection of the environment.
Regulations governing this Committee’s formation and functioning will be laid down by the Management Committee.

Article 12 – ACADEMY RESOURCES
For purposes related to its corporate aims, the Academy is authorised to accept and receive all forms of public or private national or international financial support, whether governmental or otherwise, and also support from private individuals, in addition to payments and reimbursements for any service it may offer or give. Such resources can only be accepted by the Management Committee.

Article 12 bis – SUSTAINING MEMBERS AND FRIENDS
Physical or legal persons, both public and private, and entities that share the Academy’s purpose and contribute to its life and the achievement of its purposes by making annual contributions in money to an extent not lower than that laid down, even annually, by the Management Committee, or by assigning material assets, while not assuming corporate obligations and rights, may acquire the status of Sustaining Member.
This status lasts for as long as such contributions are regularly provided.
Physical or legal persons that make a free contribution to the Academy, while not assuming corporate obligations and rights, and declare that they accept the principles transmitted by the Academy, may acquire the status of Friends.

Article 13 - FINANCIAL YEAR
The financial year starts on 1 January and closes on 31 December each year. The Management Committee approves the annual financial statements within 120 days of the closure of the year, or within 180 days if necessary owing to particular requirements that have to be established by the Management Committee.
During the life of the Association, profits, management surpluses, provisions and reserves may not be distributed unless their allocation or distribution is legally necessary.

Article 13 bis – CONTROL OF GOVERNANCE
The Academy’s financial statements are suitably audited according to arrangements made with the organisations that have provided financial support for the Academy.

Article 14 - ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS
The Committee may adopt such regulations as may be helpful from the point of view of full compliance with the provisions of the Articles of Association.

Article 15 - AMENDMENTS TO THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
Amendments to the Articles of Association are made by the General Meeting by at least a two-thirds majority of the Members that attend and vote.

Article 16 – WINDING-UP
In the event of the winding-up of the Academy, it is obligatory for its assets to be devolved to other similar associations or to purposes of public interest.

Article 17 – INTERIM CLAUSE
The Management Committee may legally and validly issue acts and operate through the members appointed under the Memorandum of Association pending the formalisation of the appointment of two Ordinary Members as per the provision in Article 7, following the procedure laid down in Article 4 above.