Rights of Nature, a New Perspective in Law

doi:10.1017/9781108769327.014

10 - Rights of Nature, a New Perspective in Law

from Part III - Perspectives

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 March 2023

Valérie Cabanes

Edited by

Sandy Lamalle and

Peter Stoett

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Sandy Lamalle: Affiliation:
Concordia University, Montréal
Peter Stoett: Affiliation:
Ontario Tech University

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Summary

We are at war with life. The Earth ecosystem, our common home, is being destroyed by industrial technologies which have led to massive pollution of all ecosystems, greenhouse effect, deforestation, impoverishment of the soil, overexploitation of fresh water, acidification of the ocean. We are now engaged in a sixth mass extinction. It is time to recognise the ongoing ecocide, the destruction of our common home, as a crime. It is also time to relearn to live in harmony with Nature, to recognise its intrinsic value and its right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles, in all its life forms. The Rights of Nature allow us to protect the rights of future generations, human and non-human. This chapter presents various new initiatives and legal cases from around the world to that end.

Keywords

Rights of Nature Earth jurisprudence environmental crime ecocide universal jurisdiction right to protection Indigenous peoples SDGs climate change legal personality planetary boundaries

Type: Chapter
Information: Representations and Rights of the Environment , pp. 233 - 258

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108769327.014 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2023

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