Council

Agenda Item 85 

Subject:                    Endorsement of the Rights of Nature Bill

Date of meeting:    29 January 2026

Proposer:                 Cllr Rowkins

Seconder:                Cllr Alexander

Ward(s) affected:   All

Labour Group Amendment

That deletions are made as shown with strikethrough below and additional recommendations are added as shown in bold italics below:

This Council notes:

1) Current Historic environmental laws and regulations are failing have failed 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 proposes an alternative legal framework — the Integrated Rights Framework — that recognises nature as a rights bearing legal subject and embeds human and economic rights within ecological limits.

3) The government’s Environmental Improvement Plan 2025, which includes steps to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030 (“30by30”), the creation of 3 new national forests, delivery of agri-environment schemes to incentivise sustainable farming and the reintroduction of native species.

4) The work being undertaken by the Council and other groups and stakeholders to restore and protect nature in the city and on the Downland Estate.

This council resolves to request the:

1) Council acknowledges the growing global movement of ‘Rights of Nature’ as a potential framework for rethinking its relationship with our city’s ecosystems.

2) Council agrees that Brighton & Hove City Council signs the pledge^[1] to endorse note 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 and monitors the progress of the proposed bill.

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.

3) Council considers a ‘bottom up’ approach working with local communities, environmental groups and relevant stakeholders in order to implement the Nature’s Rights initiatives.

4) Council considers working works alongside local communities, bathers, surfers, marine conservation and environmental groups on a “Rights of the Coastline” charter to protect coastal and marine habitats and reduce the impact of human activity.

Recommendations to read if carried:

This Council notes:

1) Historic environmental laws and regulations have failed 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 government’s Environmental Improvement Plan 2025, which includes steps to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030 (“30by30”), the creation of 3 new national forests, delivery of agri-environment schemes to incentivise sustainable farming and the reintroduction of native species.

4) The work being undertaken by the Council and other groups and stakeholders to restore and protect nature in the city and on the Downland Estate.

This council resolves to request the:

1) Council acknowledges the growing movement of ‘Rights of Nature’ as a potential framework for rethinking its relationship with our city’s ecosystems.

2) Council agrees that Brighton & Hove City Council note 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 and monitors the progress of the proposed bill.

3) Council considers a ‘bottom up’ approach working with local communities, environmental groups and relevant stakeholders in order to implement the Nature’s Rights initiatives.

4) Council works alongside local communities, bathers, surfers, marine conservation and environmental groups to protect coastal and marine habitats and reduce the impact of human activity.

---