American Society of International Law 2026 Annual Meeting
Will occur on Apr. 22 - 25, 2026. There will be a group of programs on theme: Environment, Oceans and Seas, Space, and Sustainable Development.
ASIL provides a publicly accessible audio recording of this 2024 panel: "If Nature has Rights, Who Speaks on its Behalf?" https://soundcloud.com/americansocietyofinternationallaw/if-nature-has-rights-who-speaks-on-its-behalf?in=americansocietyofinternationallaw/sets/2024-asil-annual-meeting
Session description: "In a departure from the traditional view that ecological entities are mere objects for human use, there has been a recent and growing recognition of nature -- including rivers, mountains, forests, and other ecological entities -- as active legal subjects. This new perspective acknowledges the interconnectedness and co-evolution of the human and natural world, recognizing the intrinsic value of both. This movement has been gaining traction globally, with environmental organizations and Indigenous peoples, in particular, advocating for the expansion and implementation of these rights.
This panel will explore which ecological entities have had their rights recognized, and what are those specific rights. These legal developments cannot be seen as simply transferring human rights to the environment, but rather, as granting distinct rights, like “river rights” or “forest rights,” to different entities. These distinct rights are tailored to the local context, but commonly include the right to exist, regenerate, and evolve. The panel will also examine how rights of nature can be enforced. Different jurisdictions have approached enforcement in different ways. For example, some countries have established comprehensive guardianship mechanisms involving nominated representatives whereas in other regions, individuals can go to court to enforce the rights of nature."
