Council to consider motion backing Bill of Rights for Nature

Last week, Baroness Bennett tabled the 'Nature's Rights Bill', which would recognise nature as a legal subject, establish and protect the rights of nature, and establish a legal duty of care for public bodies, businesses, and individuals, among other things.

The private members’ bill originates from legal campaign group Nature's Rights, which aims to change the law to in order to place nature as the foundation of human life, society and the economy.

Central to the legislation is the creation of an 'Integrated Rights Framework' in which nature’s rights are recognised as foundational to human rights and public wellbeing, and to property rights and economic activity.

Following the tabling of the bill, Cllr Ezra Cohen proposed a motion for the council to support the legislation.

The Green party councillor’s motion calls on the leader to write to the area’s MPs to express support for the bill – and to ask East Sussex County and the Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority to support the Rights of Nature locally, and support the passage of the bill through Parliament.

The motion says that protecting and restoring nature "should be practical priorities for local and national government" and are essential to building climate resilience in the face of escalating threats of extreme weather.

It argues the current UK legal system treats nature, and its constituent species and ecosystems, "as fungible objects, resources and property to be owned, managed, used, traded away or destroyed in return for short term economic gains, even though people, communities and the economy all depend on healthy natural systems".

The motion also claims that the existing legal system and governance structures provides "piecemeal and inadequate" environmental protections which have failed to halt or reverse widespread degradation of nature.

The Green-run council will vote on the motion next week.

Lewes has already taken progressive positions on environmental rights after adopting a Rights of River Charter for the River Ouse in May 2025.

The charter established eight new rights for the waterway, including a recognition that the River Ouse should have the right to be free from pollution, is essential for ensuring life, including human life, and has a right to native biodiversity.

Adam Carey