The European Tolerance Talks 2026, held in the Carinthian mountain village of Fresach, featured lectures, panel discussions, and debates on topics including the limits of resistance in everyday life, Ingeborg Bachmann’s resistance to prevailing social conditions, the power of faith, responses to injustice and inequality, democracy and human rights, and the influence of today’s so-called “tech giants.”

Moderated by author Alexander Peer, Camilla Haake joined Michael Jungmeier, UNESCO Chairholder at Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, philosopher Ursula Baatz, and sustainability researcher Christine Ax to discuss whether society needs to move beyond an anthropocentric worldview, what opportunities Austrian environmental law currently offers for effective and efficient environmental protection, and to what extent rights-bearing ecosystems could help address potential shortcomings of existing legal frameworks.

Following Michael Jungmeier’s introduction to the foundations of the Rights of Nature movement in both theory and practice, the panel explored recent developments regarding the recognition of Rights of Nature in national contexts, particularly in Latin America, and the potential implications for similar developments in Europe, including Spain. Discussions addressed the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, relevant case law from international courts, and legal aspects of potentially recognizing subjective rights for the Pasterze Glacier at the foot of Austria’s highest mountain, Großglockner, as well as the idea of a future “Citizen Danube.”

Due to both its topical relevance and its polarizing nature, the panel attracted a particularly engaged audience. Participants in the packed Tolerance Centre raised a range of critical questions, including the practical benefits of granting rights to nature for humans, flora, and fauna; the need for stronger protection of farm animals within sustainability-related legislation at national and international levels; and the responsibilities of legislators in addressing the pervasive “Triple Planetary Crisis” of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution.

At LBI-GMR, Camilla Haake conducts research on the Rights of Nature, among other topics. More info’s on the research project.