Summary
In 2023, citizens in Poland created a “Draft bill on the legal personality of Odra/Oder River” aimed to stimulate discussion and possible legislative solutions (1). The draft bill recognizes the legal personality of the Oder River, and states that the river “has the right to exist, to flow freely, to evolve naturally as an ecosystem and to perform the functions necessary within that ecosystem, to conserve biodiversity, to regenerate its resources” and be free from pollution and compensated for damages (2).
(NOTE: This draft bill is a preliminary proposal to regulate the issue of the personality of the Oder River and requires a number of works, additions and consultations at further stages. The aim of this draft bill is to stimulate discussion on possible legislative solutions to the problem of the legal personality of the natural elements.)