Back

Nature as a legal entity

What is it about?

The emergence of rights of nature has recently been observed in many legal systems around the world, and in some places there is even a global trend in this direction. The most decisive step towards rights of nature has been taken in Ecuador. According to Art. 71 para. 2 of the Constitution, rights of nature can be claimed by any person in or out of court. The project aims to investigate the changes brought about by the recognition of this new legal entity. Of particular interest is the transferability of the concept to other legal systems and the dogmatic problems, conflicts, but also opportunities that may arise.

Project title & duration

Nature as a legal entity
Laufzeit: 01.11.2022-31.10.2024

Thesis/further detailed information

On a legal-theoretical level, the project asks how nature is represented in law and what effects this has on the theory of the (legal) person. It also looks at how natural entities gain access to the courts, i.e. how they are enabled to articulate themselves in judicial proceedings, to what extent nature gains access to international courts and how the constitutional development in Ecuador can possibly favor an opening here. The project hopes to use these questions to gain general insights into the emergence of new non-human legal entities and the significance of.

Interim result

Funding body

Funded by:
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)

Back