Laws for the Earth: Rights of Nature and Other Legal Innovations

This program will discuss the emerging field of Earth Law (i.e., Earth-centered law) and how legal systems are being reimagined to better protect ecosystems, future generations, and the long-term public interest. The course will examine Rights of Nature as a foundational legal innovation, alongside related developments such as legal rights of future generations, bioregional and ecosystem-based governance, and new models for embedding ecological interests within existing legal and institutional frameworks.

This program will benefit attorneys interested in innovative approaches to environmental protection, governance reform, and sustainability. It is particularly relevant for environmental and natural resources lawyers, public interest practitioners, corporate and nonprofit counsel, and others seeking practical, forward-looking legal tools to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and other systemic ecological challenges.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Identify core Earth Law concepts, including Rights of Nature and the rights of future generations, and how they depart from traditional legal frameworks
2. Assess emerging legal innovations, such as bioregional governance and legal representation of Nature, and where they can be applied in existing legal systems
3. Evaluate potential implications of novel mechanisms like Nature on boards, guardianship models, and non-human representation for clients
4. Explore how courts, regulators, and legislatures are implementing these developments