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justice and rights

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
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

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

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

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

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
Gender equality does not always progress in tandem with increased activism. : duncan cumming/Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/duncan/38304217042/ CC BY-NC 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/

The web provides safe harbour to anti-feminist views which can have real-world repercussions.

Standing up to violence against women

The flipside of women’s rights movements

Culture
Speaking about politics is commonly considered socially taboo. : cottonbro studio/Pexels Free to use

For a protest movement to succeed, it must fit within the cultural landscape of its environment.

Standing up to violence against women

How women holding flowers held Japanese courts to account

Human Interest