Culemborg (Netherlands) Municipal Motion: rights of nature
On May 30, 2024, council members in Culemborg, Netherlands submitted a Motion to include the Rights of Nature in the town's environmental vision and planning.Read More →
Europe
This page identifies ecological jurisprudence initiatives that exist in Europe. For the purposes of delineating boundaries, we define Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan as constituting the Eastern boundary of Europe.
Spain constitutional court case: Mar Menor Act of 2022
On November 20, 2024, Spain's constitutional court ruled that the Mar Menor Act of 2022 establishing legal rights of the Mar Menor Lagoon is constitutional.Read More →
International Rights of Nature Tribunal, 14th Local Hearing: Serbia 2024
In November 2024, the International Rights of Nature Tribunal convened its 14th local hearing on gold mining in Homolje, Serbia and severe ecological damage.Read More →
Lucerne (Switzerland) Constitutional Amendment: rights of the Reuss River
In April 2025, the Rechtperson Reuss Association submitted a constitutional amendment to the Canton of Lucerne to recognize the rights of the Reuss River.Read More →
Erfurt (Germany) district court case: rights of nature (second ruling)
On October 17, 2024, the Erfurt District Court in Germany took into account the inherent rights of nature when calculating damages from diesel emissions.Read More →
Switzerland district court case: hunting permits and the rights of wolves
In 2024, a Swiss citizen filed an appeal against a hunting permit for wolves, claiming the wolves have a right to judicial procedures in their own right.Read More →
Switzerland court case: voting rights of wild bees and minor children
On April 16, 2025, the Supreme Court of Switzerland rejected a plea arguing that minor children and wild bees should be holders of voting rights.Read More →
Erfurt (Germany) district court case: rights of nature via the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
In August 2024, the District Court of Erfurt in Germany set a legal precedent by recognizing the rights of nature in a court ruling.Read More →