INTER-AMERICAN COURT ON HUMAN RIGHTS RECOGNIZES THE RIGHTS OF NATURE

On 3 July 2025, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued Advisory Opinion OC-32/25. For the first time, the Court addressed the climate emergency and expressly recognised Nature and its components as rights-holders. This marks a historic milestone, as it is the first time the Court has explicitly affirmed that Nature can bear rights - a major step forward in the development of international human rights and environmental law.Crucially, the Court also recognised an autonomous human right to a healthy climate, derived from the broader right to a healthy environment. The opinion further affirms that both States and corporations hold binding obligations under international law to confront the climate crisis as a matter of human rights urgency. 

The ruling can be found here. For an analysis of the ruling, see hereand here.