Rights of Nature

This chapter serves to establish a critical dialogue on rights of nature (RoN) by combining various perspectives, in particular those of law and anthropology. RoN are often presented as an (or even “the”) answer to the global environmental and climate crisis. Indeed, they are often cherished as if they were a magic wand, saving nature by turning it from an object to a (legal) subject. However, our analysis – which looks at their global development, the understanding of (legal) personhood, related questions of indigeneity as well as notions of the Anthropos and the actual effects of RoN on the ground – shows that they are an oscillating and inter-relational concept. RoN are employed in different ways, for different goals, building on different theoretical bases. We should neither essentialize nor romanticize, but contextualize them and understand their benefits and limitations in achieving justice. Hence, while RoN might not be “the” answer, they have raised crucial questions, created new spaces for debate, and can, depending on circumstances, be a concrete tool to be used for environmental (or other) causes.