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environmental issue

Countries such as Ecuador are starting to see on-ground results from the rights of nature movement. : Maarten van den Heuvel Unsplash license

Half a century since it was conceived, rights of nature is a movement with momentum. The next test? Making its impact felt the world over.

Rights of nature

Time is now for the next rights of nature phase

Half a century since it was conceived, rights of nature is a movement with momentum. The next test? Making its impact felt the world over.

Environment
The right for nature to simply exist is self-evident. : Michael Joiner, 360info CC BY 4.0

The idea that nature — forests, rivers, mountains — could have rights, in the same way that human rights, or corporate rights exist has been building momentum.

12 perspectives
Special Report

Rights of nature

The idea that nature — forests, rivers, mountains — could have rights, in the same way that human rights, or corporate rights exist has been building momentum.

Environment
Should this insect have legal rights? : David Elliott/Flickr CC 2.0

Some experts are proposing that nature has rights, like human rights. But to do that, we first have to define what ‘nature’ really is.

Rights of nature

What is the ‘nature’ in the rights of nature?

Some experts are proposing that nature has rights, like human rights. But to do that, we first have to define what ‘nature’ really is.

Environment
If human development bled this river dry, should we be charged with murder? : James Mann/Flickr CC 2.0

If a river has rights, does that mean farmers can no longer use the water to grow their crops?

Rights of nature

What does rights of nature mean for development?

Environment
Victoria’s law protecting the Yarra River (Birrarung) offers valuable lessons for legislators. : Bernard Spragg. NZ, Flickr Public domain

Although it lacks the teeth of legislation overseas, Victoria’s Yarra River (Birrarung) laws provide a foundation for rights of nature to build on in Australia.

Rights of nature

Australia’s rights of nature push flows from the Yarra River

Environment
South Asian waterways such as the Ganges River are under threat and the rights of nature movement might be the key to better protecting them. : Indrajit Das, Wikimedia Commons CC BY 4.0

Rivers are the lifeblood for millions of Indians and Bangladeshis. But a radical legal idea to save them from pollution is being met with opposition.

Rights of nature

Rivers are still people in South Asia despite court showdown

Environment
This river is regarded as a person by the law in New Zealand : Diane Wilkins/Wikimedia CC 3.0

Granting ‘rights’ to rivers and forests has been embraced by environmentalists. But to understand its effectiveness, we must first look closely at the law.

Rights of nature

The law of the river

Environment
Tracking data from fishing vessels can hold a wealth of information. : Npsiegel/WikimediaCommons CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

Gathering reliable data from the high seas can be difficult and opaque.

Empty oceans

Overfishing is depleting global fish stocks: Here’s what we can do about it

Economy
Researchers are working to solve the problem of wasted food : Kathleen Franklin/Flickr CC 2.0

Worried about food waste? Here’s how researchers are working to solve the problem

Food waste

How science is solving food waste

Environment