International Environmental Policy

The International Tribunal of Rights of Nature (RoN) is a trailblazing citizen-driven initiative. Since 2014 the Tribunal serves as a public forum to address the widespread destruction of the Earth and advocates for a systemic alternative to conventional environmental protection and laws.

The Rights of Nature call for more than just legal change – they demand a cultural shift in how humans relate to their environment. Across Europe, artists and activists are embracing this movement through sound art, theater, exhibitions, publications, and performative gatherings.

The protection of nature requires a new legal foundation. In South Africa and worldwide, the Wild Law Institute demonstrates how the rights of nature can redefine our relationship with the environment – for a more sustainable future.

The Atrato River in Colombia was recognized as a legal entity in 2016. Yet, environmental destruction and violence continue to threaten it. A community of guardians is fighting to voice the river and enforce its rights.

India’s rivers are sacred yet heavily polluted. In 2017, the Ganges and Yamuna rivers were granted legal personhood, but the ruling was suspended. What role can the Rights of Nature play in India and what changes are needed to make them effective?

Bolivia made global headlines over a decade ago when it legally recognized the rights of nature. But how effective is this concept in the face of ongoing extractivism? A look at the opportunities, challenges, and limits of this legal paradigm shift.

In 2022, the Spanish salt lagoon Mar Menor was recognized as a legal entity – a milestone for the Rights of Nature in Europe. A report on the history of this unique ecosystem and its path to legal subjectivity.

In 2017, New Zealand became one of the first countries in the world to grant rights to a river: the Whanganui River. Here, we presents five ways in which the recognition of the River as a legal person could help to shape law and policy.

"Frogs win court case." This headline reported on a legal case in Ecuador in 2020. What sounds curious marked a significant milestone for the rights of nature.

Dennis Tabaro shares insights in the interview about his work on the rights of nature and the significance of indigenous knowledge and culture in Uganda.