One million signatures for the rights of ecosystems
TBA21 supports Rights for Nature, a European Citizens’ Initiative calling for nature’s rights to be recognized and for citizens to be empowered to defend them.
A body of water sustains life throughout a landscape, yet its interests are rarely represented in the decisions that affect it. The European Citizens’ Initiative Rights for Nature seeks to enshrine ecosystem rights in EU law and give people and communities the legal tools to defend them. TBA21 supports this call as part of its commitment to nature’s intrinsic value and its recognition as a rights-bearing entity.
We want to see this approach take root across society, building on changes already underway within our own organization. Since becoming a Zoöp, Ocean Space, TBA21–Academy’s center in Venice, has embedded the interests of non-human life in its strategic decisions. The Zoöp model appoints an independent Speaker for the Living to represent those interests and establishes an annual cycle of assessment and ecological regeneration goals. At Ocean Space, curator and researcher Chiara Famengo holds this role.
Through the Zoöp model and projects such as Nature Speaks—developed together with NICHE and Ca' Foscari University, and exemplifying TBA21's support for the declaration of the rights of the Venice Lagoon—with its corresponding Ocean-Archive.org collection that compiles situated case studies of European initiatives, and the Confluence of European Water Bodies, TBA21’s inquiry into rights of nature explores how ecosystems can be represented in the very governance structures where their futures are decided.
Rights for Nature brings this ambition to EU law through a direct channel for citizen participation. We invite everyone who shares this understanding of our relationship with the living world to lend their support.
The initiative needs one million valid signatures within twelve months, with national thresholds met in at least seven EU Member States. Once these requirements are met and the initiative is submitted, the European Commission must examine the proposal and issue a formal response. Signature collection is now open and runs until October 13, 2027.