<
https://theconversation.com/rights-of-nature-are-being-recognised-overseas-in-australia-local-leadership-gives-cause-for-optimism-212851>
"As each day passes, the need to protect Australia’s environment grows more
urgent. As noted in the most recent
State of Environment Report in 2021, we
are increasingly turning to “measures of last resort” to prevent species
extinctions and the collapse of ecosystems.
In legal theory, the “rights of nature” acknowledges all Earth’s natural
elements as having an inherent right to exist and flourish.
Developments towards recognition of the rights of nature have attracted
international attention. In some countries, they have come about through
legislative reform, constitutional amendment and the courts.
In Australia, federal, state and territory parliaments have not shown much
appetite for introducing the rights of nature principle into legislation. The
Murray-Darling River System (Rights of Nature) Bill 2021 in New South Wales
and the
Rights of Nature and Future Generations Bill 2019 in Western
Australia raised the possibility, but did not progress. One exception is
Victoria, where a law protecting the Yarra river and its First Nations
custodianship was passed in 2017.
Around the globe, lawyers and policy makers have been engaged in finding ways
the law can contribute to the protection of ecosystems. Conferring ecosystems
with rights is one strategy we can use to prevent species extinctions and
ensure a “voice” for nature."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
