Summary
The Citizens’ Assembly of Haute-Garonne declared itself in favor of granting legal status to the Garonne River. The proposal to “Give the Garonne River legal personhood” aims to obtain legal recognition for the river, thereby allowing the river to take legal action against harm and degradation, and address the goals of resource conservation, combating overuse, pollution, and protecting biodiversity.
Background:
In October 2022, the Haute-Garonne Departmental Council established the Citizens’ Assembly, a consultative body for the ecological transition of Haute-Garonne, composed of 162 members selected from 1,550 applications. The Citizens’ Assembly regarding the rights of the Garonne was held on May 22, 2023, in which it declared itself in favor of giving the Garonne a legal personality and rights. It was also decided to create an association promoting the legal personhood of the Garonne River (extending beyond the borders of Haute-Garonne to encompass the entire Garonne River system, including its tributaries and watersheds). The Garonne Collective was founded in Toulouse at the end of January 2025.
The Garonne Collective collaborates closely with the Garonne Guardians Collective, which was founded in 2022 and also works to have the Garonne recognized as a subject of law. The two groups formed an alliance around the Declaration of the Rights of the Garonne. The Declaration recognizes the river’s: right to flow freely, right to health and preservation of its integrity, right to fulfill its essential functions in its ecosystem, right to regeneration and restoration, right to take legal action and be represented.
The Declaration was signed by the mayor of Bordeaux, Mr. Pierre Hurmic and local elected officials, marking a significant step towards the legal protection of the river.
Photo: Bastien Nvs on Unsplash
Involved Organizations
Related Initiatives
Suggested Citation:
Kauffman, Craig, Catherine Haas, Alex Putzer, Shrishtee Bajpai, Kelsey Leonard, Elizabeth Macpherson, Pamela Martin, Alessandro Pelizzon & Linda Sheehan. Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. V2. 2025. Distributed by the Eco Jurisprudence Monitor.https://ecojurisprudence.org/initiatives/france-citizen-declaration-rights-of-the-garonne-river/.
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