Rights of Nature: Legal Advancement or Symbolism?

Abstract

The mixed results of Rights of Nature cases lead to questions about the potential of Rights of Nature as an improved form of environmental protection legislation. Drawing on Bruno Latour’s work and the Atrato River ruling by the Colombian Constitutional Court, I argue that if Rights of Nature is accompanied by an understanding of planetary life that emphasizes the connectedness and interdependence of life on Earth including human life, Rights of Nature can provide a more ecocentric approach to environmental protection than traditional environmental protection legislation.