Earth Law Center Blog
Is Earth Law a Solution to Light Pollution?
Light pollution impacts human and wildlife health around the world. Urban governments can enact legislation that curbs light pollution according to Earth Law principles and practices.
Earth Law: A New Voice for America’s Southern Borderlands
An Earth Law approach to protect ecosystems and human communities of the Southern Borderlands - a look at the environmental impacts of a wall built on the southern border of the US.
ELC Reflects on the Contributions of Rachel Carson
A discussion of environmental ethics and the legacy of Rachel Carson, author of the seminal book Silent Spring and a powerful force in the conservation movement.
Earth Jurisprudence and its Consideration of Animals
Janice Cox of World Animal Net (WAN) discusses the connections between the degradation of nature and animal exploitation and abuse in our society. She calls for a shift towards Earth Jurisprudence, prioritizing and protecting the natural world.
ELC to Attend Puebla’s Living Rivers Forum and Festival
Earth Law Center is participating in the Ríos Vivos Foro y Festival (Living Rivers Forum and Festival) in Puebla, Mexico. Participants will consider new approaches to river restoration and celebrate local waterways like the Atoyac River.
An Earth Law Solution to Ocean Plastic Pollution
Plastic pollution in Earth's oceans seriously threatens marine ecosystem health; current environmental laws have failed to address this global issue.
Rights for the River Ethiope, Nigeria
It is a special place of worship due to its origination at the base of a cottonwood tree; an environmental irony where human interest and appreciation endangers what it seeks to appreciate.
Co-Violations: Where Both Human and Ocean Rights Violations Occur
The Earth Law Framework for Marine Protected Areas serves as a tool for adopting a holistic and rights-based approach to ocean governance; protecting both nature and humans from co-violations of their rights at sea.
The Amazon River Needs Rights Recognition Now
The Amazon River is the world’s largest in water volume, and 2nd only to the Nile in surface water. It is the largest river basin, running through Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana, Bolivia and Brazil.
How Can Earth Law Save Florida?
Florida has lost millions of acres of forest and wetlands to development. Dozens of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, coral and other creatures crowd the state’s list of endangered species.
Why Earth Law Will Be Good for Puget Sound in Washington State, USA
Puget Sound is the 3rd largest estuary in the U.S. The health of species within these waters are intricately tied to human activities both on the land and water.
It’s Time for an Earth Law Textbook
First law textbook on legal movement to establish rights for nature from Earth Law Center. The textbook will be available for university courses and elsewhere. The goal is to train the next generation of rights of nature experts.
Evolving California’s Water Governance
Vast over-allocation of water, with very little (or sometimes none) left for waterways themselves, exceeds California’s actual freshwater supply by about fivefold.
Rights of Nature: A Few Theoretical Considerations
The Rights of Nature movement... is still relatively young, and its proponents are still actively involved in debates about how to best articulate its conceptual framework.
Earth Law Center’s 2017 Was One for the Books
Medicine Bow National Forest, near ELC's new regional office in Boulder, CO
Dams + Climate Change = Bad News
Dams disrupt a waterway's ability to support vital ecosystems. They increase evaporation, and make coastlines vulnerable to storm surges and rising sea levels.
Rights of Nature for the Great Lakes
Over 30 million people rely upon the water from the Great Lakes, which touch eight states, and the Canadian province of Ontario.
Earth Law Center’s Fight to Return Rights to the Ocean
In Spring 2017, ELC launched the Rights of the Ocean Initiative to promote an Earth-centered paradigm in ocean governance.
Mexico on the Vanguard for Rights of Nature
Three rivers in Mexico, the Magdalena, Atoyac and San Pedro Mezquital, face significant threats including pollution and altered flows. A proposed dam would seriously damage the San Pedro Mezquital.
How Earth Law Can Help Cetaceans in Uruguay
The convergence of two major ocean currents turn the waters of coastal Uruguay into a rich ecosystem, and nursery for fish, seabirds, and whales.