The Rights of Nature
Seattle settled a lawsuit brought by the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe on behalf of salmon harmed by dams on the Skagit River. This is one of the first “rights of nature” cases in the US, and the tribe argued that the lack of fish passage measures violated the salmon’s rights. Seattle agreed to include fish passage facilities in its application to renew its license to operate the dams.
A Lake Erie Bill of Rights adopted by Toledo, Ohio, in 2019 was intended to protect the lake from pollution. The law gave Lake Erie legal standing and gave Toledo, Ohio, and its residents the right to sue on the lake’s behalf.
Here are some relevant articles:
- Press Release: City of Seattle Settles “Rights of Nature” Case Filed by the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe – Agrees to Create Fish Passage Through Skagit River Dams Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights
- Seattle settles case involving ‘rights of nature,‘ a theory gaining steam in other countries ABA Journal

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