CEENRG Thursday seminars: 'A global analysis of legal personhood for nature through an institutional lens'

Speaker: Dr Julia Talbot-Jones (Senior Lecturer, School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington | Visiting Researcher, Bennett Institute for Public Policy, Univ. Cambridge)

The Cambridge Centre for Environment, Energy, and Natural Resource Governance (C-EENRG) is hosting a seminar series throughout the 2024- 25 academic year.

The rise of laws that establish legal rights for nature has been framed as a revolution in environmental law and governance; however, little is understood about the durability of these rights and the institutional conditions that could lead to desirable outcomes. This seminar will present preliminary results of the first global analysis of legal rights for nature cases (n=313) to understand the social, legal, and institutional responses to the Rights of Nature being given force and effect. The results suggest that many laws establishing legal rights for nature remain unchallenged and durable over time. Nevertheless, backlash in the form of litigation is swift in cases where existing property rights to an environmental good or natural resource conflict with the newly established (or proposed) rights. The findings provide insights for understanding the conditions under which legal rights for nature could be established and sustained over time.

Seminars take place as hybrid meetings (in person seminars in the DAB - David Attenborough Building + online in Zoom) every Thursday (please check precise time as may vary) during the term. Please register online to receive the Zoom link on the day of the seminar. Everyone is welcome!