Rights for Nature

Fase de iniciativa: Fase de conceção Categorias: Natureza e biodiversidade

European citizens movement to recognise ecosystems as rights-holders. Join one million Europeans bringing this demand before EU Commission!

Rights for Nature

We are European citizens uniting to call on the EU to recognise ecosystems as rights-holders rather than property. Signature collection is now open - join one million Europeans bringing this demand before the European Commission. www.rightsfornature.eu

For too long, we've treated nature as property - something we own, use, and exploit. But nature isn't just scenery or resources. It's our life support system, our home, our partner in survival.

Across Europe, rivers are dying, forests are disappearing, and ecosystems are collapsing. The old legal frameworks aren't enough because they treat nature as an object without a voice. But what if rivers could defend themselves in court? What if forests had legal representatives? What if the people who live alongside these ecosystems could stand up for them?

In Spain, 700,000 people gave the Mar Menor lagoon its own legal rights. In New Zealand, the Whanganui River is a legal person. In Ecuador, nature has constitutional rights.

Now it's Europe's turn. With one million signatures, we can demand that the EU recognize Rights for Nature - giving ecosystems legal personhood and empowering citizens to be their voice.

We, citizens of Europe, can make this happen. The first hurdle is already cleared: the European Commission registered our initiative on 19 May 2026. Signature collection opened on 13 October 2026.

The initiative is officially registered with the European Commission.

Signature collection is now open. We have one year to gather one million signatures across the EU. Will you become part of that journey?

Tipo de instituição/transportadora

Sociedade civil

Nome da instituição

rightsfornature

Como é que a iniciativa é financiada?

Rights for Nature is an independent campaign. We accept no corporate funding - our work is supported by foundations and individuals who share our commitment to a Europe where nature has legal standing.

Existem outros parceiros ou doadores associados à vossa iniciativa?

All Partners to be found here

Oportunidades de participação

O que é necessário

Cidadãos empenhados

Objectivos

1.000.000 signatures for

LEGAL VOICE
Nature gains legal standing to defend itself against harm through citizen representation.

ECOSYSTEM REGENERATION
Empowering damaged ecosystems with rights to healing, regeneration, and recovery.

CITIZEN EMPOWERMENT
Enabling Europeans to directly advocate for the ecosystems they depend on.

JOIN THE MOVEMENTFIND OUT MORE https://www.rightsfornature.eu/about/

 

Efeito

THE PROBLEM: NATURE HAS NO LEGAL STANDING

Europe has strong environmental laws. Yet ecosystems are still being degraded. Part of the reason is structural: under current law, nature has no legal standing of its own. It cannot be represented in court. When its health is at stake, the burden falls on public authorities - and enforcement depends on political will, institutional capacity, and clear lines of responsibility that do not always exist. Rights for Nature addresses the gap that regulations alone cannot close.

THE IDEA: LEGAL PERSONHOOD FOR ECOSYSTEMS

Rights for Nature gives ecosystems a legal identity of their own - the right to exist, to remain healthy, and to be restored when damaged. It is not a new concept in law: companies, trusts, and public institutions are all legal persons that can hold rights and be represented in court. Rights for Nature extends that same logic to the natural world. A designated guardian - a citizens' committee, a public body, or a recognised organisation - can act on behalf of an ecosystem, just as a trustee acts on behalf of a beneficiary.

THE SHIFT: FROM MANAGING HARM TO PROTECTING LIFE

Current environmental law asks: how much damage is permissible? Rights for Nature law asks: what does this ecosystem need in order to thrive? That change in question leads to a change in everything else - who can bring a case, what counts as harm, and what protection actually means in practice.

https://www.rightsfornature.eu

 

Grupo-alvo

European Citizens 

Objectivos de sustentabilidade

Medidas de proteção do clima Vida debaixo de água (oceanos e mares) Vida na terra Parcerias para atingir os objectivos

Objectivos de sustentabilidade

  • Medidas de proteção do clima
  • Vida debaixo de água (oceanos e mares)
  • Vida na terra
  • Parcerias para atingir os objectivos

Nome da Organização

Endereço / Geo, Contacto

Esta página foi traduzida automaticamente com DEEPL.
A descrição da iniciativa foi originalmente criada em Inglês
... ...