Summary
On February 2, 2023, state representative Leninha of the Workers’ Party, proposed an amendment to the State of Minas Gerais constitution, recognizing the Rights of Nature. The amendment states that “Nature – where life is also reproduced and realised, has full, intrinsic and perpetual rights, inherent to its existence on the planet, imposing on the public authorities and the community the duty to defend it, ensure its recovery, protection and the maintenance of fauna, flora and other ecological, biological, genetic and biogeochemical processes, ensuring the rights of nature to thrive and evolve, and in harmony coexist with the cultural processes of human life, for the benefit of current and future generations, human and non-human.”. The proposal emphasized the affect of Brazil’s anthropocentric law, while bringing attention to ways in which this amendment is complementary to federal law. Finally, the document specifies the importance of this amendment serving the pursuit of ‘bem viver’ (good life) and common environment of the Povo Mineiro (people of Minas Gerais).
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/state-of-minas-gerais-brazil-proposed-constitutional-amendment-recognizing-the-rights-of-nature/.
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