Against the backdrop of the tangible effects of climate change, discussions on environmental and, in particular, climate protection issues are shaping the (socio-)political and legal landscape. The concept of ‘rights of nature’ is now on everyone’s lips worldwide. In 2008, Ecuador was one of the first countries to take the step towards recognising nature as a legal entity: as part of a constitutional amendment, it was decided to expressly grant subjective rights to nature as a legal entity. Colombia, New Zealand, Bangladesh and even Spain, as the first European country, soon followed suit and made ‘nature’ or individual rivers legal entities.

An extensive (legal) academic discourse is now underway on the subject of ‘rights of nature’, including in Austria and Germany. However, the legal systems of Austria and Germany have in common that they have recognised neither the inherent rights of ‘nature’ nor do they include subjective ‘rights of nature’. Nevertheless, developments related to ‘rights of nature’ have been observed in both countries in recent years.

Our colleague Camilla Haake conducts research on ‘rights of nature’ in the context of a research project funded by the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft as well as her habilitation project. In her lecture, she will present these developments and assess their significance for the Austrian and German legal systems as well as for the global ‘rights of nature’ movement on Thursday, 26 June 2025, at the Kassel Institute for Sustainability.

The lecture will be held in English.

Participation is free of charge. Registration is not required.