A recent report, unveiled ahead of a major conference in Colombia, states that “acknowledging the Rights of Nature and implementing actions centered on Mother Earth are essential for achieving the 2030 and 2050 targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.” This framework, finalized in late 2022, is dedicated to preserving 30% of crucial land and aquatic habitats by 2030. The document encourages nations to incorporate these nature-focused commitments into their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), which outline each country’s strategies to meet the framework’s objectives.<\/p>\n
“To effectively address and reverse the biodiversity crisis, it is crucial for countries to urgently reform their legal and societal frameworks to coexist peacefully with nature,” remarked Grant Wilson, executive director of the Earth Law Center (ELC) and co-author of the report. He further highlighted, “The Global Biodiversity Framework offers an unprecedented opportunity to promote the Rights of Nature and other revolutionary legal models for planetary health. For numerous nations, this could also lead to significant financial aid, sparking a dramatic transformation in our interaction with and protection of the natural environment.”<\/p>\n
The report emphasizes the importance of Target 19 within the framework, which aims to mobilize a minimum of $200 billion annually by 2030 from various sources to fund national biodiversity strategies and action plans, specifically noting that these funds should support ‘Mother Earth-centric actions.’ Produced by the ELC with contributions from End Ecocide Sweden, Keystone Species Alliance, Lawyers for Nature, and Rights of Mother Earth, the paper sets the stage for the upcoming COP16 conference of the Convention on Biological Diversity, scheduled to take place in Cali from October 21 to November 1.<\/p>\n
“In order to truly embody COP16’s theme of ‘Peace with Nature,’ it is critical to prioritize the Rights of Nature and Mother Earth within the biodiversity convention, rather than relegating them to a minor note,” stated Doris Ragettli, co-founder of Rights of Mother Earth. “Similar to how the Human Rights Declaration facilitated peace post-WWII, it’s time we elevate the rights of nature on a global scale.”<\/p>\n
With over 30 countries already recognizing the Rights of Nature through constitutional provisions, laws, or judicial decisions, Jeremie Gilbert, affiliated with Lawyers for Nature, noted, “Achieving ‘Peace with Nature’ necessitates integrating these rights into global biodiversity conservation practices.”<\/p>\n
Recently, communities in Chile declared the Rights of the Biob\u00edo River to protect it from increasing ecological threats, marking the first such initiative for a river system in the country. This follows other advancements in South America, including a Peruvian court ruling granting rights to the Mara\u00f1\u00f3n River and an Ecuadorian court decision against pollution violating the rights of the Mach\u00e1ngara River.<\/p>\n
Constanza Prieto Figelist, Latin America director for ELC, described the Chilean recognition as “a bridge that not only affirms the inherent value of rivers and natural entities but also is crucial for fully realizing the human rights of their communities.”<\/p>\n
The ELC highlighted that the report was primarily crafted by law school and undergraduate interns collaborating with the sponsoring organizations. These young advocates, who are increasingly supportive of Rights of Nature and ecocentric laws, will participate in the Earth Law Center delegation at COP16 to discuss with governments the implementation of transformative Earth-centered policies.<\/p>\n
Emily Zinkula, a law student at Stanford and an ELC intern, expressed, “It’s incredibly inspiring to witness people globally, from various backgrounds, coming together to champion the intrinsic value of nature.” She added, “Observing ELC and its partners fervently work to convert this intuition into a global reality is empowering. The global recognition of nature\u2019s rights by leaders provides much-needed hope, courage, and validation for a generation that deeply desires it.”<\/p>\n
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