Coffee party rights of nature

The University of Erfurt was an ideal location for this, not only because innovative research on this topic is taking place here as part of the Amazon of Rights project, but also because a few weeks earlier, nature's rights had been the subject of an oral hearing at Erfurt District Court for the first time in German judicial history (more details here).

The coffee party provided an opportunity to discuss the topic in a relaxed atmosphere. The participants included not only academics from various German universities, but also representatives from civil society and the judiciary. The event was particularly enriched by a research group from Ecuador, who were able to report on their experiences from the first and only country to incorporate the rights of nature into its constitution.

The participants engaged in a lively discussion about current challenges relating to the rights of nature and, in particular, the extent to which the German legal system could learn from the Ecuadorian experience. Contacts were also made for future cooperation.

The event was financially supported by the Heinrich Böll Foundation.