An idea whose time has come, a movement that could change EU environmental law for good, one million signatures to go: On 27 March 2026, a coalition of civil society organisations from 14 countries submitted a formal request to the European Commission to register the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) titled “Rights for Nature: Empower Citizens to Represent and Protect Ecosystems.”
What if a river could defend itself in court? What if a forest had the same legal standing as a corporation? A coalition of organisations from fourteen EU member states is working to make that a reality and they are asking one million Europeans to join them.
Their instrument is a European Citizens’ Initiative. Their goal: a fundamental shift in EU law, recognising ecosystems as legal entities with the right to exist, to regenerate, to be defended in court, and empowering ordinary citizens to act as their representatives.
The idea is not new but it is gaining momentum. Around twenty countries worldwide have already recognised rights for ecosystems, through constitutions, legislation, or landmark court rulings. Ecuador enshrined Rights of Nature in its constitution in 2008. New Zealand granted the Whanganui river legal personhood in 2017. In 2019, the UN described Earth Jurisprudence – of which Rights of Nature is the legal expression – as “the fastest growing legal movement of the 21st century.”
Europe is catching up. In 2022, Spain became the first European country to grant legal personality to an ecosystem, when the Mar Menor lagoon and its basin were recognised as a subject of rights. The Spanish Constitutional Court has upheld this law in November 2024. Since then, citizens across the continent have followed suit: in France, the Loire river has its own Parliament and the Tavignanu its declaration of rights; in Poland, nearly 100,000 people signed a citizens’ initiative for the Odra; in Germany, a campaign for the rights of the Spree river has mobilised thousands; in Belgium, citizens are fighting for the Sambre. The movements are already here. What has been missing is a unified European voice.
“The Mar Menor showed us what becomes possible when the law is on nature’s side. A lagoon that was suffocating came back to life – because people finally had the tools to protect it. We want every European river, every forest, every wetland to have that chance.” – Eduardo Salazar, Pacto por el Mar Menor, Spain
“Across France, Rights of Nature grassroots initiatives are multiplying, showing that citizens are ready for this change. What we want now – what this initiative demands – is an EU Directive that gives every European citizen the legal right to stand before a court and defend the ecosystem they live beside. That is what we are asking Brussels to write into law.” – Marine Yzquierdo, Notre Affaire à Tous, France
“Nearly 100,000 people in Poland signed to give rights to the Odra – and on the very day we submitted this initiative to the European Commission, the Polish Sejm voted to take the Odra rights bill on its agenda. The momentum is undeniable. Now we are taking it to a European scale.” – Dobrosława Lewicka, Osoba Odra, Poland
“The EU has set its goals to protect nature. But in each category it is failing. A new paradigm is needed. Giving rights to nature is a deeply democratic idea that will empower citizens and the EU to reach these goals. The change we need will come from the people.” – Emmanuel Schlichter, Rechte der Natur e.V., Germany
On 27 March 2026, the coalition submitted a formal request to the European Commission to register the initiative – officially titled “Rights for Nature: Empower Citizens to Represent and Protect Ecosystems.” The Commission is expected to respond by 27 May 2026. Signature collection is planned to begin in autumn 2026. The coalition already brings together partner organisations from fourteen EU member states, with the ambition of running a coordinated campaign across all twenty-seven.
About the initiative
“Rights for Nature: Empower Citizens to Represent and Protect Ecosystems” is a European Citizens’ Initiative coordinated by Rechte der Natur e.V. (Germany). It is part of a global Rights of Nature movement recognised in over twenty countries. rightsfornature.eu
Cover image by Annette Meyer from Pixabay
