The concept refrains from viewing ecosystems, animals, and plants exclusively as objects or resources. Rather, nature is accorded inherent value and protection by establishing it as an active bearer of its own subjective rights. This approach is becoming increasingly important in the context of industrial exploitation of the natural environment and a wide variety of ecological crises.

At the beginning of October 2025, scientists, representatives of civil society initiatives, and interested parties came together for a three-day conference in Hanover on the topic of “Nature’s Own Rights” to exchange ideas.

The conference initially approached the topic by looking at the species extinction that has been widely warned about in the so-called Anthropocene. This took place in a lecture by evolutionary biologist Prof. Dr. Matthias Glaubrecht from the University of Hamburg. This was followed by an initial classification of the discourse on the “rights of nature” by Dr. Andreas Gutmann from the Kassel Institute for Sustainability, using Ecuador as an example.

Our colleague Camilla Haake, postdoctoral researcher at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights and head of the “Sustainability, Development, Economy, Social Affairs” program line, moderated the discussion on “International experiences with the rights of nature” with presentations by scientists Dr. Laura Affolter (DFG Research Group “Futures of Sustainability” at the University of Hamburg) , Dr. Katharina Bader-Plabst (Kapellmann Law Firm, Munich), and Jula Zenetti, LL. M. (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig) on examples of the application of “rights of nature” from Ecuador, New Zealand, and Spain.

Since 2008, Ecuador has been considered a pioneer in this regard, as the “rights of nature or Pacha Mama” are enshrined in its constitution. Similar to Ecuador, New Zealand is an example of the strong connection between the “rights of nature” discourse and the (human) rights of indigenous groups. By supporting the subjectification of nature as such or of individual natural ecosystems such as mountains or rivers, these groups are also seeking greater protection for their own habitats. Spain is the first and so far only country in Europe where an ecosystem has been recognized as having legal capacity. In 2024, the Spanish legislature granted the saltwater lagoon “Mar Menor” its own rights by law, including the right to exist.

Together with the interested audience, the speakers discussed the potential of the international examples presented for the recognition of “rights of nature” by the German legislature, as well as possibilities for civil society to support corresponding initiatives.

In June 2025, Camilla Haake published a new essay entitled “Rights of Nature through Case Law?”, which deals with the possibilities and risks of establishing “rights of nature” through case law in (continental) Europe.