Oldal 13 [13]
PREFACE
In an era where ecological crises — deforestation, polluted waters, and climate
upheaval — demand urgent attention, Rights of Nature and Creation Care
offers a nuanced exploration of a transformative legal and ethical concept: the
Rights of Nature. This book does not advocate for blindly adopting this
framework but seeks to deepen understanding of its principles, origins, and
potential within the context of environmental law and the Catholic Church’s
teachings on creation care.
The Rights of Nature represents a bold shift in environmental thought,
emerging over the past fifty years, to grant legal personhood and inherent
rights to ecosystems, rivers, forests, and species — rights to exist, flourish, and
regenerate free from excessive human harm. Rooted in traditions outside
Europe’s Roman law systems, this concept challenges conventional legal
paradigms by recognizing nature’s intrinsic value, distinct from its utility to
humans. Through global examples, such as New Zealand’s Whanganui River,
granted legal status, or Ecuador’s constitutional protections for Pachamama,
the book illuminates diverse approaches to this idea and examines how it
might resonate within European legal and cultural frameworks.
To interpret the phenomenon, we will also highlight some elements of the
social teaching of the Catholic Church that reflect on the relationship between
the created world and man. Although the church does not interpret the Rights
of Nature phenomenon, the message of many teaching elements carries respect
for nature. The volume does not aim to conduct an examination of theological
teachings in the area of the rights of nature, but rather to highlight those
elements of the church’s social teaching that help us think about the
phenomenon.
This preface invites legal scholars, policymakers, theologians, and concerned
readers to engage with the Rights of Nature as a concept worth understanding.
By blending rigorous legal analysis with theological insights, Rights of Nature
and Creation Care fosters informed dialogue about reimagining humanity’s
relationship with the natural world, encouraging reflection on how legal and
spiritual frameworks can together address our shared ecological responsibilities.
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