A critical evaluation of the potential benefits of legally enacting a Nature’s Rights Bill in the UK: How granting legal personhood to nature could provide a useful framework for environmental governance and biodiversity protection

Elaine Hills

A critical evaluation of the potential benefits of legally enacting a Nature’s Rights Bill in the UK: How granting legal personhood to nature could provide a useful framework for environmental governance and biodiversity protection

Elaine Hills

The Learning and Teaching Hub

Research output: Other contribution › peer-review

Abstract

The paper outlines the key theoretical debates around anthropocentrism, environmental justice and legal ontology as a grounding to the discussion around the Rights of Nature. It examines comparative international case studies of RoN and consider key UK environmental legislation. Through this analysis, it assesses the feasibility and implications of enacting a UK Nature’s Rights Bill for environmental governance and biodiversity protection.

Original language	English
Type	Essay
Number of pages	15
Publication status	Published - 2026

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abstract = "The paper outlines the key theoretical debates around anthropocentrism, environmental justice and legal ontology as a grounding to the discussion around the Rights of Nature. It examines comparative international case studies of RoN and consider key UK environmental legislation. Through this analysis, it assesses the feasibility and implications of enacting a UK Nature{\textquoteright}s Rights Bill for environmental governance and biodiversity protection. ",

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