From Property to Personhood: Reimagining Nature's Place in the Legal Order

This Article explores the emerging rights of nature movement as a radical departure from traditional environmental approaches, grounded in a “new consciousness” that challenges the anthropocentric world-view. The Article sets the stage for a defense of the rights of nature by providing a comprehensive critique of the current model of economic development, primarily focused on GDP, which has proven detrimental to environmental health by neglecting broader values; the Article also highlights alternative measures adopted by entities like the UN and EU that incorporate factors like happiness. Rights of nature builds upon that foundation for a broader understanding of development and presents a more holistic approach for the protection of nature and animals. Finally, Part IV illustrates a positive departure from GDP obsession through Bhutan’s creation of a special purpose city in Gelephu, emphasizing sustainable and holistic development models.

This abstract has been taken from the author's introduction.