Summary
In July 2025, the Green Bay, Wisconsin City Council authorized the Sustainability Commission to draft a Rights of Nature resolution, aimed at requiring earlier and deeper review of development impacts. The Council proposed that the resolution be modeled on Milwaukee County’s 2023 resolution and tailored to Green Bay’s unique natural assets. The recommendation outlined four key elements for the resolution, including the (1) recognition of local ecosystems, (2) rights-based standards, (3) collaborative drafting with Indigenous nations, and (4) referral to city staff. The resolution would be non-binding and symbolic. The drafted resolution of the Sustainability Commission must be reviewed before the Council’s consideration.
Prior to the City Council’s authorization, Milwaukee County of Wisconsin became the first jurisdiction to approve a non-binding Rights of Nature resolution. The resolution affirmed that multiple rivers have the right to be “healthy, robust, and resilient.” The resolution was recommended to model a similar initiative for the City of Green Bay.
Photo: Sebastian Kurpiel on Unsplash
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/green-bay-usa-resolution-rights-of-nature/.
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