Redefining Global Climate Solutions and Environmental Protection for Systemic Change: A Rights of Nature COP28 White Paper

In a historic move at the UN Climate negotiations in Dubai, the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN), in collaboration with Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) and Movement Rights, has released a groundbreaking white paper on the Rights of Nature at COP28. Titled “Redefining Global Climate Solutions & Environmental Protection for Systemic Change,” the report was launched at a press conference in Dubai, featuring influential speakers such as Ponca elder and Movement Rights’ board chair, Casey Camp Horinek, Nnimmo Bassey, director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Nigeria, and Osprey Orielle Lake, WECAN Executive Director. The report outlines the power of Rights of Nature as a transformative force in addressing climate change, emphasizing its role as a legal tool for tribes and local communities to influence national policies. Largely Indigenous-led, the Rights of Nature movement has become one of the fastest-growing Earth Jurisprudence movements globally, with legal recognition in over 30 countries.

Catalyzing Systemic Change

The second edition of the report, “The Rights of Nature: Redefining Global Climate Solutions & Environmental Protection for Systemic Change,” demonstrates how Rights of Nature offers a systemic solution to the climate crisis. It challenges the prevailing economic paradigm that fails to sustain and regenerate life, questioning the efficacy of market-based solutions centered on putting a price tag on nature’s vital processes. The report asserts that a paradigm shift is essential, moving away from an economic system based on endless extraction and material production towards one focused on regeneration and well-being. Recognizing the rights of ecosystems to exist, flourish, and regenerate their natural capacities, Rights of Nature emerges as an alternative framework crucial for transforming our relationship with the natural world.

Towards Reciprocity

Highlighting the direct link between human activities and catastrophic climate disruption, the report argues for a shift in the definition of “wealth” from financial accumulation to regeneration and well-being. It emphasizes the need for a new body of human law to codify and implement these values, and Rights of Nature emerges as a frontrunner in providing such an alternative framework. As Earth Jurisprudence gains momentum, the Rights of Nature movement has found support in more than 35 countries in the last 15 years, with many others actively considering its adoption. By recognizing the rights of ecosystems and placing obligations on humans to live within the natural world rather than as owners of it, Rights of Nature sets the stage for a profound transformation in our relationship with the environment.

Download the Report

The white paper, “Redefining Global Climate Solutions & Environmental Protection for Systemic Change,” is available for download by clicking here. This release marks a significant milestone in the global pursuit of environmental justice and a sustainable future. As we navigate the complex challenges posed by climate change, embracing the Rights of Nature becomes not just a choice but a necessity for the well-being of our planet and future generations.