Subject: Endorsement of the Rights of Nature Bill
Date of meeting: 29 January 2026
Proposer: Cllr Kerry Pickett
Seconder: Cllr Mark Earthey
Ward(s) affected: All
Joint Notice of Motion
Green & Brighton and Hove Independent Groups
This Council notes:
1) Current environmental laws and regulations are failing to prevent the destruction of nature, often simply regulating the rate of destruction.
2) ‘Rights of Nature’ is a growing international legal, political and social movement that aims to rethink our relationship with nature - from one of dominance to one of interdependency requiring a respectful, holistic and empathic approach. It can act as a catalyst to shift our thinking from an extractive economy towards a regenerative economy.
3) The UK Nature’s Rights Bill introduces a transformative legal framework — the Integrated Rights Framework — that recognises nature as a rights bearing legal subject and embeds human and economic rights within ecological limits.
This council resolves to request the:
1) Council acknowledges the growing global movement of ‘Rights of Nature’ as a framework for rethinking its relationship with our city’s ecosystems.
2) Council agrees that Brighton & Hove City Council signs the pledge[1] to endorse the principles of the Nature’s Rights Bill changing the legal status of nature from being objects, property and resources to a legal subject with inherent rights.
3) Leader of the Council to write to the Government calling for the House of Commons to table the Nature’s Rights Bill and embed the Integrated Rights Framework into UK law.
4) Council considers a ‘bottom up’ approach working with local communities, environmental groups and relevant stakeholders in order to implement the Nature’s Rights initiatives.
5) Council considers working alongside local communities, bathers, surfers, marine conservation and environmental groups on a “Rights of the Coastline” charter.
Supporting Information:
[1]https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScCWr0kEEcG2p4XF1mqsv_XsHjBYK0Ae7cxadLorrDrlTet9Q/viewform
https://democracy.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?Id=1106
UK campaigners launch bill to give nature legal rights | Environment | The Guardian
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caJkUW_NqyY