Summary
On 19 May 2026, an European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) titled Rights for Nature: Empower Citizens to Represent and Protect Ecosystems was submitted to and accepted by the European Commission, registration number: ECI(2026)000006
This European Citizens’ Initiative seeks to recognise Rights of Nature in European law via a legal act such as a directive or a regulation to strengthen the protection of ecosystems.
The submission states:
“We invite the Commission to adopt an EU Directive acknowledging that ecosystems possess intrinsic value and fundamental rights. Ecosystems within the meaning of Article 3(1) of the EU Regulation 2024/1991 on nature restoration and Article 2(2)c of the Directive 2024/1203 should be recognized as legal persons subject of rights. Recognizing these rights would help counteract the accelerating degradation of biodiversity, climate systems, soils, forests, rivers, wetlands, and marine environments across Europe.”
“Furthermore, we demand the introduction of a citizen-based implementation mechanism which mobilizes local knowledge and highlights the congruence between citizens and ecosystems’ interests.”
The submission states that it seeks to move from treating nature as property to recognising ecosystems as living entities with intrinsic value and fundamental rights, including the rights to exist, to regenerate their biocapacities and vital cycles, and to be restored. Its stated aim is to empower citizens and communities to act as stewards and representatives of ecosystems, both to prevent harm and to support protection, restoration and regeneration. It references the 2022 law on the legal personhood of the Mar Menor in Spain (see Annex).
Involved Organizations
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/europen-citizens-initiaitve-eci-rights-for-nature/.
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