Rights for Nature

Ecosystems within the European Union are in crisis, despite existing environmental laws. Climate change, habitat destruction, overexploitation of the oceans, forests, and soils, environmental pollution, and invasive species are contributing to this trend. Therefore, the movement is calling for the rights of nature to be recognized in a European legal act in order to better protect ecosystems.

The concept calls for ecosystems to be granted their own legal personality. Nature should no longer be treated as property, but rather as a living entity with intrinsic value and fundamental rights. These rights include the right to exist, the right to regenerate its biocapacity and life cycles, and the right to restoration. In addition, citizens and communities are to be empowered to act as representatives of ecosystems and, following the example of the Mar Menor in Spain, to have the right to sue and to take further legal action to protect nature.

There are already ecosystems that have been granted rights. One example within the European Union is the Mar Menor salt lagoon in Spain, which has been granted its own legal personality and rights. Similarly, the Whanganui River in New Zealand has been recognized as a legal entity. In Ecuador, the rights of nature are even enshrined in the constitution.

To advance this cause at the European Union level, a European Citizens’ Initiative has been launched. Through this mechanism, citizens of the European Union can call on the European Commission to propose new legislation. To do so, at least one million signatures from at least seven EU member states must be collected. If this threshold is reached, the European Commission must review the issue and provide a formal response. People can participate in the initiative until October 13, 2027.

About the European Citizens' Initiative: Sign here!