London: A groundbreaking proposal to grant legal rights to nature will be introduced in the House of Lords with the launch of the UK Nature’s Rights Bill initiative.
The private member’s bill, led by former Green Party leader Baroness Natalie Bennett, seeks to transform how the law perceives the natural world, shifting its status from property and resource to a legal entity with inherent rights.
The initiative, developed by the organisation Nature’s Rights and supported by leading environmental figures such as Chris Packham and Dale Vince, argues that long-term economic growth and social justice are impossible without respect for the environment.
If enacted, the bill would create a legal duty of care toward nature and establish national and regional councils responsible for implementing and overseeing the law. These bodies would guide sustainable and regenerative practices across all sectors, ensuring that environmental protection becomes a central pillar of governance and decision-making. “We are looking for a seismic shift in law and policy making,” said Mumta Ito, founder of Nature’s Rights and the bill’s lead drafter.
“Rights for nature are a crucial step towards rethinking our place in the world.”
Protecting nature’s rights means protecting ourselves.#RightsForNature #ClimateAction pic.twitter.com/v61hpPe3Vu
— Natalie Bennett (@natalieben) October 22, 2025
The move comes amid a worldwide surge in nature rights campaigns, driven by frustration over humanity’s exploitative relationship with ecosystems and growing concerns about the limits of technology and market-driven climate solutions.
Several countries have already recognised the rights of nature through constitutional or legal measures. Ecuador, Bolivia, and Uganda have enshrined such rights in national laws, while Canada, the United States, New Zealand, Mexico, and Northern Ireland have introduced local or regional versions. Courts in India and Colombia have also acknowledged the rights of rivers and ecosystems.
The United Nations is currently studying the legal implications of recognising nature’s rights, with discussions taking place at international gatherings of the UN Environment Programme and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
