Austria Citizens Initiative Petition: constitutional amendment for nature as a legal person

Summary

On 4 November 2025, a petition concerning “Nature’s capacity for independent rights – suggestion to amend the Federal Constitution and federal laws” was submitted by Member of Parliament Julia Elisabeth Herr to the Austria National Council. The proposal states that “It is time to assume moral responsibility for human actions and their impact on the environment, all natural systems, and future generations, and to demand and promote systemic change.”

In Austria, citizens can submit formal petitions (Bürgerinitiativen) to the National Council, which requires signatures from at least 500 eligible Austrian voters to be considered. These parliamentary initiatives provide a mechanism for direct, grassroots participation to bring specific issues to the political agenda. The National Council has a dedicated committee that deals with citizens’ initiatives (petitions).

The petition “Nature’s Legal Capacity” ( 14/PET ) proposes a constitutional amendment to establish nature as a legal person. This would mean that nature would no longer be “mere property,” but would instead acquire an “independent right to existence, flourishing, and development.” Furthermore, it would ensure that nature could participate as a party in administrative proceedings and civil law. The proposal emphasizes that the creation of legal autonomy for nature should not be seen as an obstacle to economic and social life. Rather, it is about a legal restructuring to protect nature and a “kind of intergenerational contract” to preserve natural cycles. It is about rethinking our activities and what we can reasonably expect from our planet with its finite resources.

The proposal argues that “Past experience clearly shows that protecting nature purely out of human interest has been insufficient for its preservation. Therefore, nature, or parts of it, must no longer be protected for our well-being, but for its own sake. Granting nature legal capacity and the capacity to be a party to legal proceedings is thus a logical consequence.”

The petition suggests using regulations in countries like Spain and Ireland as a model.