ELC Latin America Team to Cohost Official Side Event at Escazú Agreement COP 3 (Zoom webinar; registration link below ..read more

Defra’s “firm position” that rights cannot be given to Nature falsely conceives of the law as a static entity bound by predetermined “fundamental principles.” On the contrary, the UK’s uncodified constitution gives lawmakers a great deal of flexibility to enact statutes that reflect the evolving understanding of who or what has intrinsic value and deserves rights ..read more

Progress updates on implementation of the Escazú Agreement, which is the first international treaty in history to enshrine rights for those considered defenders of Nature, in order to reinforce the protection of human rights in environmental matters. Likewise, it promotes the implementation of management and governance mechanisms in environmental matters, involving vulnerable groups such as youth, women, and Indigenous peoples in the process ..read more

In this blog post, we break down key terms and concepts related to rights of future generations, Summit of the Future, and Pact for the Future. We also explore the actions of countries with established protection and representation of the rights of future generations and share our suggestions on language for the Pact for the Future ..read more

in the spring of 2024, Earth Law Center (ELC) entered into a year-long collaboration with water journalists from the InfoNile program, including a five-day online training program for Nile River journalists, which was held March 18-21st, 2024, in conjunction with World Water Day (March 22nd), and which focused on the Legal Personhood of the Nile River. Based on the strength of InfoNile’s journalist network and background in training journalists in water, environmental, and science and data journalism, 20 journalists from 11 countries along the Nile River were selected to enroll in the journali ..read more

Most authors to date view ecocide as a helpful extension of Rights of Nature theory into criminal law. Of course, there would be limitations in the ICC’s enforcement against ecocide, but the move to include ecocide as an international crime against peace nonetheless advances the global narrative on the Rights of Nature. Already, laws against ecocide in France, Belgium, and other countries around the world provide deeply imperfect but useful frameworks for implementing ecocide into national and international law ..read more

ELC’s Latin America Legal Program has developed 4 pillars of our work: 1) Environmental justice initiatives, 2) Nature defenders and human rights initiatives , 3) Legislative and policy initiatives, 4) Global advocacy and movement building initiatives. Together with our partners, we currently have active projects in 5 countries in South and Central America. We have shared our expert insights in more than 20 environmental lawsuits, contributed to the formulation of 15 environmental bills, and successfully passed 4 laws recognizing the Rights of Nature ..read more

In March 2024, Indigenous leaders from across Polynesia including Aotearoa (New Zealand), Tonga, Tahiti, Hawai’i, and the Cook Islands signed He Whakaputanga Moana (Declaration for the Ocean), recognizing whales as legal persons with inherent rights. Whale populations have suffered significant decline globally due to human activities. Whilst not a binding international treaty, the Polynesian call to grant personhood to whales is sparking conversations around utilizing Indigenous knowledge to protect whales and combat anthropogenic climate change ..read more

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