LEGAL PERSONALITY OF NATURE ELEMENTS AS A NEW INSTRUMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. INTRODUCTORY ISSUES
2025, 109, Numer 1
Uniwersytet w Białymstoku
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Abstrakt
The article examines the concept of giving legal personality to the elements of nature as an innovative instrument of environmental protection. It presents the evolution of this idea, from the theoretical considerations of Christopher D Stone in the 1970s to specific legal solutions currently operating in various legal systems. The Spanish legislative solution for the Mar Menor lagoon, which is the first example in Europe of recognizing an element of nature as a legal entity, is analyzed in detail. It also discusses a citizens’ legislative initiative to give legal personality to the Oder River in Poland, which was created in response to the 2022 environmental disaster. The article distinguishes between two main approaches to the concept of rights of nature: the ‘indigenous’ approach, based on the traditions and beliefs of indigenous peoples, and the ‘legal’ or ‘pragmatic’ approach, aimed at increasing the effectiveness of environmental protection. The author argues that giving legal personality to the elements of nature, despite some controversy, can be an effective legal tool to complement existing environmental protection mechanisms, responding to the challenges of today’s environmental crisis.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The publication was prepared within the framework of the project titled ‘Rights of Nature – A Vehicle for Sustainable Development? Operationalisation and Critique from an International and Comparative Law Perspective’ (RONSUS), grant no 2021/43/B/HS5/01839, funded by the National Science Centre, Poland. The author acts as an investigator in the project.
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