EveJoin ELC at Fordham Law School for a dynamic series exploring the rising influence of the Rights of Nature and Earth law movements in New York and beyond. This three-part program covers the Green Amendment and Earth Law in New York State, offers an introduction to Earth Law principles, and examines urban ecocentrism through law and culture. Attend one, two, or all three sessions to deepen your understanding of how communities are advancing legal protections for the Earth.

Greeting & optional pre-networking, 10:30-11:00 AM

Innovating with the New York Green Amendment, 11:00 - 12:00 PM
In 2021, New York became the third state to constitutionally recognize the human right to a healthy environment, called a “Green Amendment.” While the courts may take time to fully integrate these rights, local governments can begin to articulate and uphold them immediately through municipal laws and programs. Join our speaker series to learn about how local governments can join the fight for climate justice. Also learn more about the landmark advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on climate rights, and implications locally.

FEATURING:

Grant Wilson, Executive Director, Earth Law Center
Carine Gibert, Grounded In Motion + students from Lycee Français de New York
Rachel Lowe, NYU Law School, J.D. Candidate
Meseret Carver, NYU Law School, J.D. Candidate
Katrina Fischer Kuh, Faculty Director of the Environmental Law Program, Haub Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law
Kevin Schneider, Counsel, Earth Law Center

INTRODUCTION TO EARTH LAW, 12:30 - 1:30 PM
Earth law is a growing global movement to align human legal systems with the laws of nature. This introduction explores innovations in the Rights of Nature, rights of future generations, bioregional governance, and related efforts. Case studies include New York, Indigenous Nations, and global precedent.

FEATURING:

Grant Wilson, Executive Director, Earth Law Center
Cat Haas, Director Eco Jurisprudence Monitor
Guido Berguido, Director of ADOPTA Bosque Panama Association

ECOCENTRISM IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT, 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Cities are ecosystems, too. Around the world, a growing number of governments are working to live in harmony with the natural world with innovative legal initiatives and research agendas. This session will highlight many of these innovations–from rights of the Seine River in Paris to citizenship for bees in Curridabat, Costa Rica; from rewilding London to a history of native ecosystems in New York City, where streams and creeks still exist beneath the layers of concrete – and much more.

FEATURING:

Event chair: Alex Putzer, UN Harmony with Nature Expert, Researcher on the Rights of Urban Natures
Eric Sanderson, Ph.D., Vice President for Urban Conservation, Director of the Center for Conservation and Restoration Ecology New York Botanical Garden
Agamemnon Otero, CEO of Energy Garden, co-founder of Repowering, Brixton Energy, Community Energy England
Christine Billy, Executive Director of the Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy, and Land Use Law, NYU School of Law
Jeff Sebo, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, Director of the Center for Environmental and Animal Protection, New York University
Edgar Mora-Altamirano, Nature's Citizenship Advocate, former Mayor of Curridabat, and Minister of Education of Costa Rica
Amanda Sturgeon, CEO of The Biomimicry Institute

The Living City: An Urban Ecocentric Law Summit

Rights of Nature in the City