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Beehaw, what is your opinion on right of nature laws, which recognize natural entities as having "personhood" or legal rights comparable to humans? (en.wikipedia.org)

submitted 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) by alyaza@beehaw.org to c/askbeehaw@beehaw.org

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practical examples of this, if you're curious, include the Tūtohu Whakatupua (which declared the Whanganui River and tributaries as a legal entity), the agreement around Mount Taranaki (which grants it legal personhood), and the invalidated Lake Erie Bill of Rights (passed by Toledo, OH and was designed to allow residents to bring lawsuits on behalf of Lake Erie to protect it)

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[–] t3rmit3@beehaw.org 11 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

This is a very important legal tool that people have been using around the world to be able to bring suit against people and companies who cause damage to nature.

In most countries, in order to sue someone you require legal standing, which usually involves showing that you or someone or something you have control or ownership of, was caused harm by the defendant.

This status, as it's being used, specifies some set of entities who can sue on behalf of the juridical entity, for harm done to it. This greatly increases the ability of people to hold companies accountable for environmental damages.