Jessica den Outer | Exploring the Rights of Nature and the Earth Charter

In this conversation, Earth Charter International Executive Director Mirian Vilela speaks with author, and Rights of Nature advocate Jessica den Outer about the movement’s evolution and its connection to the Earth Charter. Den Outer explains how recognizing rivers, forests, oceans, and other ecosystems as subjects of rights can help legal systems move beyond treating nature merely as property. Drawing on cases from New Zealand, Ecuador, Spain, India, and the Netherlands, she presents Rights of Nature not as a “silver bullet,” but as a pragmatic legal bridge toward a worldview grounded in care, reciprocity, responsibility, and respect for the community of life. The conversation also explores the influence of Indigenous worldviews, the role of guardians who speak on behalf of ecosystems, and the many ways citizens, educators, businesses, lawyers, artists, and communities can help translate ethical principles into action.