Use + Remix

environmental politics

There are challenges when granting legal status to entities such as the Ganges. : Ryan via Flickr CCBY2.0

Viewing nature as a commodity has long been the norm but giving it legal rights may force a change of outlook across the world.

Rights of nature

Reframing the law to recognise nature’s value

Viewing nature as a commodity has long been the norm but giving it legal rights may force a change of outlook across the world.

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
The recognition of Mother Earth as a legal person could well invite lawsuits when a cyclone or flood cannot easily be attributed to anthropogenic climate change. : ADRA India CC BY-ND 2.0

The recognition of natural entities as living persons has generated awareness but its contribution to their legal protection remains uncertain.

Rights of nature

Could we sue Mother Earth for storm damage?

The recognition of natural entities as living persons has generated awareness but its contribution to their legal protection remains uncertain.

Environment
How are countries using laws to recognise and protect the rights of nature? : Michael Joiner & James Goldie, 360info. Source: Putzer et al. 2022 CC BY 4.0

Maps and charts showing the progress of laws to protect rights of nature show that countries are taking different approaches to saving ecosystems.

Rights of nature

Six charts to explain rights of nature

Environment
Oil extraction in Ecuador has been strongly opposed by local Indigenous groups. : Rmi Bnali CC 3.0

Giving legal rights to rivers and trees is touted as a potential solution to environmental damage. But history suggests its effect will be minor.

Rights of nature

Giving rights to nature will not stop environmental damage

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?

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
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
US President Joe Biden worked with China at COP26, but a lot has changed since then. : The White House, Wikimedia Commons Public domain

Souring diplomatic relations between the world’s leading economies and biggest polluters could supercharge the race to net zero.

COP27

Who wins in the US, China climate arms race

Environment