Summary
On 27 June, 2024, the Deventer Citizens’ Climate Council adopted a recommendation proposing that selected natural areas within the municipality be designated as legal entities represented by independent guardians. The proposal specifically identified the Schipbeek, Dortherbeek, the River IJssel, and monumental trees as potential candidates for legal representation. The recommendation received support from 81% of participating members.
Following adoption of the recommendation, the municipal executive announced that it would investigate the legal possibilities for implementing the proposal and examine what form of guardianship or legal representation could be established under Dutch law. Further elaboration will follow after completion of the legal assessment, but the process has been set in motion.
The Citizens’ Climate Council is a citizens’ assembly composed of randomly selected residents who develop policy recommendations to strengthen the legitimacy and implementation of democratic climate policies by involving members of the public directly. They develop concrete proposals for local policy, with a final Citizens’ Report presented to the local council for consideration.
Suggested Citation:
Kauffman, Craig, Catherine Haas, Alex Putzer, Shrishtee Bajpai, Kelsey Leonard, Elizabeth Macpherson, Pamela Martin, Alessandro Pelizzon & Linda Sheehan. Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. V2. 2026. Distributed by the Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. https://ecojurisprudence.org/initiatives/deventer-netherlands-citizens-climate-council-nature-as-a-legal-entity/.
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