Switzerland
In the Spring of 2021, five members of the Swiss Parliament formally presented an initiative to recognize the rights of nature, as well as the human right to a healthy environment, in the Swiss Constitution (Die Bundesverfassung).
The Members of Parliament who introduced the measure are:
Anna Giacometti, NR FDP (National Councilor, Liberal Democratic Party)
Jon Pult, NR SP (National Councilor, Social Party)
Nik Gugger, NR EVP (National Councilor, Evangelical Party)
Beat Flach, NR GLP (National Party, Green liberal Party)
Marionna Schlatter, NR Grüne (National Party, Green Party)
The Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights collaborated with Swiss activist Doris Ragettli of the organization Rights of Mother Earth, and Swiss author and activist Linard Bardill and others with the World Ethic Forum on this project to advance the environmental rights of people and nature within the Swiss Constitution.
Here is a portion of the initiative:
“The protection of the environment and Nature is to be strengthened in the federal constitution. In a corresponding revision, two strategic directions are to be pursued:
1. The human right to a healthy environment must be anchored as a fundamental right.
2. Nature is to be given, at least in part, the status of a legal subject.
Der Schutz von Umwelt und Natur ist in der Bundesverfassung zu stärken. In einer entsprechenden Revision sind zwei Stossrichtungen zu verfolgen:
1. Das Recht des Menschen auf eine gesunde Umwelt ist als Grundrecht zu verankern.
2. Der Natur ist mindestens partiell der Status eines Rechtssubjekts zu geben.
The text of the proposed initiative is available here in German and English.
Webinar on Switzerland, Sweden, and the Rights of Nature
In May 2021, Doris Ragettli, of Rights of Mother Earth, participated in CDER’s “Global Developments in the Rights of Nature: International Agreements” webinar. For the webinar, Doris was joined by CDER partner Pella Thiel of End Ecocide Sweden and Lodyn. Together, they presented on their work to advance the rights of nature in Switzerland, Sweden, and through international environmental agreements – including the Convention on Biological Diversity – sharing insightful lessons on how to advocate at the international level.
Watch the webinar here.