In both Northern Ireland and Ireland, the growing environmental crises are being recognized as matters of “all island” concern. 

Central to the response to these crises are growing calls to recognize the legal rights of nature in Northern Ireland and Ireland.  

In 2008, we met with delegates to Ecuador’s Constituent Assembly which was drafting the country’s new constitution. The focus of the discussions was on the rights of nature – or Pacha Mama - and the need to do something different to protect the fragile, remarkable ecosystems of Ecuador. In September 2008, Ecuador became the first country in the world to enshrine the rights of nature in a national constitution.

Today, there are plans for human exploration and exploitation on the Moon and Mars, raising significant concerns for the potential impacts on the lunar and Martian environment. Human activity has already had significant impacts off-Earth. CDER has joined with partners to develop the Declaration of the Rights of the Moon, and explore how to protect the Rights of the Moon.

Five members of the Swiss Parliament presented formally an initiative to recognize the rights of nature, as well as the right to a healthy environment as a human right. This initiative would be entered into the Switzerland Federal Constitution ((Die Bundesverfassung). The Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights collaborated alongside Swiss activist Doris Ragettli of the organization Rights of Mother Earth, and Swiss author and activist Linard Bardill and others with the World Ethic Forum, on this project over the course of a year.

We have been working with the Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI) on national legislation and local legislation to secure the rights of nature in law. PMPI is a coalition of faith-based and civil society organization seeking to protect people and nature. The national legislation was introduced into the Filipino Senate in 2019, where it is advancing.

With our partner organization — the Australian Earth Laws Alliance — we are helping advance the rights of nature in Australia. This includes working on legislation introduced by Member of Parliament Diane Evers in the Western Australia legislature in November 2019.

CDER Executive Director Mari Margil presented at the Swedish Parliament – the Riksdag – in 2019. Hosted by Member of Parliament Rebecka Le Moine, the seminar focused on what the rights of nature could look like in Swedish law. Le Moine explained, “even when we follow all the rules, it’s not enough” to protect nature.

The Himalayas are the fastest-warming mountain range on Earth. We are engaging with Members of Parliament and political leaders, as well mountaineers, trekkers, and other key stakeholders, as part of a growing effort in Nepal to address climate change.