Exploring the Rights of Nature Movement and a Unique Legal Initiative in Ecuador

6min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

Exploring the global movement advocating for the rights of nature, with a specific focus on Ecuador where a forest's rights were acknowledged by the Constitutional Court. The chapter discusses the involvement of various individuals like lawyers, indigenous leaders, and academics in this movement, and introduces the innovative legal concept of Copy Green that considers the forest as a co-author in creative works.

A growing movement of ecologists, lawyers and artists is arguing that nature should have legal rights. By recognising the rights of ecosystems and other species, advocates hope that they can gain better protection. Madeleine Finlay speaks to the Guardian’s global environment editor, Jonathan Watts, about where this movement has come from and why the UK government has dismissed the concept, and hears from Cesar Rodriguez-Garavito of NYU School of Law about how he is finding creative ways to give rights to nature. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod