Can Rights of Nature Drive Transformation? | webinar
Organised by the Future Earth Pathways Initiative
Can Rights of Nature Drive Transformation? Perspectives from Community-based research projects and political initiatives
19 June 2025, 16:00 - 18:00 CEST
Join us in a innovative webinar where we will discuss the Rights of Nature as a pathway to transformation. The Rights of Nature are often seen as a powerful way to rethink our relationship with the natural world. They challenge human-centered legal systems, allow nature to be defended in court, and aim to make civil society its guardian. While some communities have used Right of Nature to successfully protect their territories, others have faced obstacles due to unclear or symbolic laws that are hard to enforce. This raises an important question: is Rights of Nature truly transformative, or is it just a symbolic gesture?
Over the last 20 years, the idea of giving legal rights to nature has moved from the margins to the mainstream. What started as a concept championed by Indigenous communities in the Global South is now shaping laws in countries like the US and across the EU. Join us for a forum where we explore this question through real-world experiences. Researchers and practitioners will share how Rights of Nature is being applied in different regions and what role science plays in the process.
Speakers
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Jenny Garcia Ruales will discuss how scientific knowledge has supported Indigenous communities in Ecuador.
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Victor David will talk about applying Rights of Nature in European legal contexts, focusing on the Loyalty Islands in New Caledonia.
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Edgar Mora will share his perspective as a policymaker who gave legal recognition to bees, bats, hummingbirds, and butterflies as citizens of Curridabat.
Together, we’ll reflect on what these cases teach us about the potential—and the limits—of Rights of Nature in driving real change. This session will examine how science and policy intersect in driving forward ecological and social transformation. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in a timely and crucial conversation!
Looking for examples of transformations in nature and communities? Take a look on the IPBES Transformative Change Assessment
Photo by Shannon Potter on Unsplash: The Hyacinth Macaw, arara-azul-grande in Portuguese (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) is a jewel of the Rainforest, a vulnerable species overexploited