IHS is founded on the following beliefs or values:
Although humans are not the only or the most important organisms on the Earth, they are the main agent of change in the global environment.
Understanding human nature and the human condition is essential to ensuring sustainability and human futures.
Sustainable actions are essential to ensure the future of the human race and the planet Earth.
Human wellbeing on all levels is both a major goal and a condition of effective action.
A major goal of IHS is to promote the local and global consciousness and community values that are necessary to ensure human wellbeing, sustainability and human futures and guide the development of technological solutions. Achieving this goal requires the education of young people and the building of knowledge communities and action networks.