IUCN World Conservation Congress Motion 218: recognizing nature as a subject of law

Summary

During the 2020 IUCN World Conservation Congress* session held on June 11-19, 2021 in Marseille, France, members submitted Motion 218, which urged the Director-General and relevant Commissions to asses the impact of Rights of Nature on biodiversity, promote the development of Rights of Nature training, as well as promoting the granting of legal personality of Nature in general. The motion also urges Member States and sub-state actors to promote the sustainability of their natural heritage by joining the movement towards the recognition of Nature as a subject of rights. The Motion was not adopted.

This motion, sponsored by Earth Law Center, was intended to push the Rights of Nature further within the IUCN. During the 2012 IUCN World Conservation Congress in Jeju, South Korea, members passed Resolution 100, which called for the incorporation of the Rights of Nature into the IUCN’s decision-making. The IUCN was already addressing the issue of rights of nature, and the motion was deemed too similar to previous resolutions or did not meet the criteria for consideration as a new motion.

*The Congress was originally scheduled for 2020 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was eventually held in Marseille, France, in September 2021.