I. Denomination, Objectives and Domicile of the Union

A. The International Geographical Union, commonly referred to as IGU, is an international, non‑governmental, non‑profit scientific organization.

B. The purposes of the International Geographical Union are:

1. to promote the study of geographical problems;
2. to initiate and co‑ordinate geographical research requiring international co‑operation and to promote its scientific discussion and publication;
3. to provide for the participation of geographers in the work of relevant international organizations;
4. to facilitate the collection and diffusion of geographical data and documentation in and between all member countries;
5. to promote meetings of the International Geographical Union, regional conferences between the International Geographical Congresses, and other meetings in furtherance of the objectives of the Union;
6. to participate in any other appropriate form of international co‑operation with the object of advancing the study and application of geography;
7. to promote international standardization or compatibility of methods, nomenclature, and symbols employed in geography.

C. The International Geographical Union adheres to the International Council for Science (ICSU) and recognizes it as providing a co‑ordinating and representative body for the international organization of science.

D. The International Geographical Union adheres to the International Social Science Council (ISSC) and recognizes it as providing a co‑ordinating and representative body for the international organization of the social sciences.

E. The domicile of the Union is the place in which the Secretary General is based.