| | | | Monthly Update: October 2023 | | Dear Friends: This month, ELC highlights our many September events, beginning with the Earth Law Symposium at George Washington University Law School and ending with a series of events during Climate Week NYC. We want to extend a massive THANK YOU to the 12+ volunteers & interns that organized the bulk of these events. We absolutely would not have been able to pull it off without them! Our newsletter also highlights several developments in Latin America and Nigeria, underscoring the global scope of Earth law movements. If you support this type of work, please donate using the below button, or reach out to info@earthlaw.org about major gifts, year-end contributions, and related matters. Thank you! -Earth Law Center Team | | | | | | | | Earth Law Symposium at George Washington Law School ELC was honored to co-host the Earth Law Symposium with The George Washington University Law School's Environmental and Energy Law Program. World-class experts presented on a full suite of ecocentric law movements including the Rights of Nature, rights of future generations, Ocean Rights, ecocide, animal rights, Nature governance, the public trust doctrine, and more. With many future Earth lawyers in attendance, the event was a huge success over its two days. Be sure to read the full blog summary posted by The GW Point Source (GW Law's Environmental and Energy Law Blog), available here. Here are a few quotes from panelists featured in the blog. "Wonder is an essential element of an Earth lawyer’s practice, as are curiosity and imagination. That is how we can effect change, because we have to conceive the inconceivable and make the impossible possible." -Tony Zelle, General Counsel, Earth Law Center "It was a privilege for GW’s Environmental and Energy Law Program to host this first-of-its-kind event featuring experts from around the nation and the world on such an important and emerging area of law. I am particularly inspired by the symposium’s post-event impact. Several GW Law students approached me in the weeks after the event expressing interest in writing articles, pursuing internships, and exploring possible career paths on Earth law topics. To me, this is the best evidence of a successful symposium." -Randall S. Abate, Assistant Dean for Environmental Law Studies, GW Law Thank you again to all of the participants, volunteer organizers, and attendees. The full recordings will be made available soon. Stay tuned!
| |  | Credit: GW Law Environmental and Energy Law Program | |  | Organizers & speakers (photo 1) and ELC's Board President, Missy Lahren (photo 2). Credit: Grant Wilson | | | | CLIMATE WEEK NYC EXTRAVAGANZA | | ELC and friends had a fantastic time at Climate Week NYC! We highlight a number of events below, although we cannot mention them all. A huge thanks to the West Side YMCA for hosting us all! Our motto for the week: “Save the planet by day, pickup basketball by night.” Also a special thank you to the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN) and others for sharing so many spaces with us. If you met ELC in New York or otherwise and want to collaborate, volunteer, or support us, please reach out to info@earthlaw.org. | | | | 1) Panel on Marine Species and Climate Change ELC, Rights of Mother Earth, and Keystone Species Alliance packed the house at their panel on marine species and climate change. Featuring experts in sharks, sea turtles, and orcas, the panel explored how legal innovation can better protect these marine species from climate change and other threats. In 2023, sea turtle populations in Panama earned their own fundamental rights. Seven towns and counties in Washington State now support legal rights for the critically endangered Southern Resident Orcas, of which only 73 remain. Some scientists also propose to extend legal rights to sharks, with about 100 million being killed by humans every year. A special thank you to Patagonia New York Upper West Side for providing giveaways for the crowd, and to Meg Ruxton for sponsoring the event! We also want to acknowledge the contribution of Honorable Congresswoman Petita Ayarza, an Indigenous member of Panama’s Parliament, who graciously opened up the event. | |  | | |  | | | | | 2) Principles Underpinning Ocean Rights Presented at the United Nations Earth Law Center, in collaboration with The Ocean Race, the government of Cabo Verde, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and the United Nations Development Programme, held an event entitled "The Ocean Race Summit - Presenting Ocean Rights" at the UN headquarters during the 78th session of the UN General Assembly. After years of development, and galvanized by the leadership of Cabo Verde, the initiative toward a Universal Declaration of Ocean Rights culminated in this high-level event and received formal support from the World Bank, Brazil, Panama, Monaco, and more. A document entitled “We Are the Ocean and the Ocean Is Us,” focusing on the principles underpinning Ocean Rights, was presented at the UN with the goal of establishing a new ethical relationship between humankind and the Ocean. This remarkable document was formed with the input of over 150 global experts, scientists, Indigenous Peoples, business leaders, lawmakers, and other stakeholders. Watch the full summit here: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k10/k102yji5d4 During Climate Week, global stakeholders and experts also gathered at the Monaco Permanent Mission to the United Nations for the 8th Innovation Workshop, part of the Genova Process series of global gatherings. Experts discussed the strategy for the initiative toward a Universal Declaration of Ocean Rights, including the text submission by the governments of Cabo Verde and Monaco to the 2023 United Nations Omnibus Resolution on Oceans and Law of the Sea. | |  | | |  | | | | | 3) Earth Law Center Featured on The Weather Channel en Español In conjunction with Climate Week, Rachel Bustamante of ELC was interviewed on The Weather Channel en Español (yes, in Spanish!) on a special edition featuring sharks. In addition to the importance of protecting them, and how they are impacted by climate change, the interview covered the inherent relationship between humankind and the Ocean, spotlighting the initiative toward a Universal Declaration of Ocean Rights and discussing how everyone can get involved.
Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/jWh_IrBldtE?si=Ca_UlexxWrwa9I1r | |  | | |  | Credit: Rachel Bustamante | | | | 4) Panel at James Chapel: "Hearing Nature’s Voice: Perspectives from Law, Ethics, Business, and Science" Co-hosted by the Center for Earth Ethics (CEE), ELC, and GARN, this panel explored why we must shift our extractive and destructive dispositions toward Nature if we are to combat climate change, biodiversity loss, and other massive forms of environmental degradation, as well as the human rights violations that go with them. The interdisciplinary group of panelists explored how using modalities such as Rights of Nature, rights of future generations, Earth ethics, and other ecocentric frameworks can help facilitate this transition. The house was packed with practitioners, students, and interested members of the public. It was also a huge honor to have Al Gore in attendance! You can read more about the event and see the list of panelists here. | |  | ELC's Alexandra Pimor speaking at the event. Credit: Ron Hester | |  | From left to right: Karenna Gore (CEE), Grant Wilson (ELC), Alexandra Pimor (ELC), SD Smith (advisor to Ramapough Munsee Nation), Nathan Lujan (Royal Ontario Museum & University of Toronto), Gopal Patel (CEE), Natalia Greene (GARN) Credit: Ron Hester | | | | 5) Climate March ELC joined the Rights of Nature section of the climate march in New York City. GARN provided stunning animal masks along with signs, and many other Rights of Nature friends marched together to demand that we no longer treat Nature as mere property but instead recognize its intrinsic value and rights. The larger climate march included tens of thousands of people seeking an end to the use of fossil fuels. It was the largest such climate march since COVID. | |  | | |  | | | 6) Thought Leadership Dinner on Nature Governance On September 19, ELC hosted a thought leadership dinner on Nature governance (or Nature-conscious governance) at the Shearman & Sterling office in New York City. ELC’s growing Nature Governance program empowers decision-makers to make wise decisions for Nature, with Nature, as Nature. We were thrilled by a large turnout, including from Context Nature and many friends & partners! ELC's Nature Governance program advises businesses and other institutions on how to lead the transition to an Earth-centered society in which humans—and the companies we create—act as stewards of the larger community of life. In 2022, ELC co-developed a "board seat for Nature," working with a London-based natural products company called Faith in Nature. This project was carried out in close collaboration with Lawyers for Nature with guidance and inspiration from Voice of Nature and other leaders in ecocentric law. | |  | | |  | | | | | 7) "No Climate Justice Without Rights of Nature" Forum at NYU Constanza Prieto Figelist, ELC’s Latin America Legal Director, joined this forum to speak about advances of the Rights of Nature and lessons learned in Latin America. This event was organized by GARN and the More Than Human Rights Project (MOTH) and was held at New York University. In her comments, Constanza reviewed the regulatory advances in the region and urged Rights of Nature supporters to continuously strengthen legal frameworks and regulations so as to effectively implement such rights. Development in harmony with nature requires close coordination of the different stakeholders – including indigenous peoples, civil society, governments, and the private sector – to advance social, economic, and regulatory transformation. Other Rights of Nature leaders speaking at the event included Natalia Greene (GARN), Osprey Orielle Lake (WECAN), Cormac Cullinan (Wild Law Institute), Shannon Biggs (Movement Rights), Casey Camp Horinek (Ponca Nation), Tom Goldtooth (Dinè Dakota, Indigenous Environmental Network), César Rodríguez Garavito (NYU, MOTH), Jojo Mehta (Stop Ecocide International), and José Gualinga (Sarayaku-Ecuador). See the event recording | |  | | | 8) NYC Climate Week Happy Hour with Regen Network ELC and Regen Network had a blast hosting a happy hour to discuss the intersection of ecocentric law and technology in service of a more equitable and symbiotic future for all life. We had a packed event in the East Village, with attendees from a wide variety of backgrounds in law, technology, and related fields. ELC and Regen Foundation gave brief remarks on potential areas of innovation and were thrilled about the many synergies that developed amongst participants. A huge thank you to Sovereign House for hosting us! How do you think the law and technology can co-evolve together? Share your thoughts at info@earthlaw.org. | |  | | | 9) Spotlight on Partner Events ELC was proud to attend many events hosted by our partner organizations during Climate Week NYC. While there are too many to list, here are a few highlights: | | | | | | World Rivers Day and River Ethiope Festival Celebrate Nature, Conservation and Culture From Sept. 25-30 in Nigeria, Earth Law Center Africa, River Ethiope Trust Foundation, and Foundation for Conservation of Nigerian Rivers joined hands with the UNESCO Regional Center for Integrated River Basin Management (UNESC-RC-IRBM), local communities, and diverse stakeholders to celebrate the 2023 World Rivers Day and the iconic River Ethiope Festival Week. This year’s festival theme was “Celebration of the World Waterways: Towards Recognition of Rights of Rivers in Africa with Focus on River Ethiope.” The event commenced with an opening ceremony that featured local leaders, environmentalists, and cultural enthusiasts. Environmental education and conservation efforts took center stage, including interactive workshops on Rights of Nature, ecohydrology, water quality monitoring, and habitat restoration. Volunteers and local organizations collaborated to clean up River Ethiope at its source, emphasizing the importance of preserving this vital ecosystem. At the heart of the celebration were the official pre-designation of River Ethiope as a UNESCO-IRBM Ecohydrology Demonstration Centre (by Dr. O.O.Yaya, director of the UNESCO-IRBM in West Africa), ecohydrology capacity building, and the River Ethiope Festival, which showcased the region's strong cultural heritage. Participants also enjoyed guided river tours, gaining insight into the river's ecological significance and the diverse species it supports. The event closed with a commitment to continued river conservation efforts, awareness campaigns, and advocacy for sustainable river management. Overall, the 2023 World Rivers Day and River Ethiope Festival Week were a resounding success, fostering a sense of community and environmental responsibility while celebrating the beauty and significance of the River Ethiope. | |  | | |  | | | | | Training the Next Generation of Environmental Defenders in Peru In September, Constanza Prieto, ELC Latin American Legal Director, developed a two-day training at the school of environmental defenders of the Tarpurisunchis Association of Peru. The training provided young environmental defenders with the necessary knowledge and strategic litigation techniques to include the legal framework of the Rights of Nature in the defense of their territories. As part of this collaboration, Constanza participated in the radio broadcast of the Kallpachanakusun Environmental Legal Clinic (Peru), on which she explained what it means to recognize a river as a subject of rights and how to support judicial initiatives that protect the rights of rivers in Peru.
See presentation (only in Spanish) | |  | | | | | ELC Continues Work on Implementing the Escazú Agreement and More ELC's Javier Ruiz recently spoke at the YOUNGO initiative, the official youth group of the UN climate chnge treaty, in order to promote the participation of the judiciary in the implementation of the Escazú Agreement. The Escazú Agreement is an international treaty signed by 25 Latin American and Caribbean nations concerning environmental "access rights," including rights of access to information about the environment, public participation in environmental decision-making, environmental justice, and a healthy and sustainable environment for current and future generations. In his talk, Javier emphasized the importance of women human rights defenders in environmental matters. And indeed, the Latin America team is developing a long term project to work with Indigenous women river defenders to implement the Escazú Agreement in Latin America. The team also participated in the Second Annual Forum on Human Rights Defenders in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean, in the follow-up and review of the regional action plan. | |  | | | ELC Participates in the Mayan Train Case Verdict Presentation As part of the Global Alliance of Rights of Nature, ELC participated in the presentation of the verdict issued by the International Tribunal for the Rights of Nature on the Mayan Train case, the court case surrounding an environmentally destructive and culturally insensitive tourism development project in Mexico. The event included prominent judges who participated in the hearing, testimonies of the affected people, and the expert opinion of environmental lawyers and Rights of Nature practitioners. The tribunal's verdict asserts that the development of the Mayan Train constitutes a violation of the Rights of Nature and the bio-cultural rights of the Mayan People, who continue to be guardians of their territory including its cenotes, caves, jungles, biodiversity, and traditional crops. The ruling condemns the violations, establishes a series of reparatory measures, and urges the Federal Government of Mexico to make legislative reforms to incorporate the socioecological function of the territory, including the sustainable cultural practices of the Indigenous peoples and communities. Verdict in Spanish. The objective of the dialogue was to create awareness about the violations caused by the train megaproject in southeast Mexico, as well as how the Rights of Nature can be a legal tool for solving socio-environmental conflicts. View presentation (Spanish only) | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Contact Us Earth Law Center
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