Bill 4131 2nd Reading Lords

Nature’s Rights Bill [HL]

A Bill to recognise Nature as a legal subject; establish and protect the rights of Nature; establish a legal duty of care for public bodies, businesses, and individuals; provide procedural rights for the protection of Nature; establish an Integrated Rights Framework; establish mechanisms for dispute resolution and legal enforcement; make provision about Parliamentary scrutiny; establish a Nature Guardianship Council and Bioregional Councils; establish a Nature’s Rights Tribunal; create a governance structure for implementation and integration; provide for phased implementation and periodic review; ensure compliance with international environmental obligations; promote public awareness and education; and for connected purposes.

Introduced by
Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle · Green Party · Life peer
Originating house
Lords
Introduced
1 June 2026
Last updated
28 October 2026

What this bill does

Currently at 2nd Reading in the Lords.

Gives Nature legal rights and creates new bodies to protect them.

This private member’s bill would make Nature a legal subject with its own rights and duties, and would require public bodies and many businesses to act in line with those rights. It would also set up new governance, enforcement and dispute-resolution structures, including a Nature Guardianship Council, Bioregional Councils and a tribunal. As introduced, it is a wide-ranging framework bill aimed at changing how decisions on land, finance, policy and development are made.

  • Recognise Nature as a legal subject and rights-bearing entity
  • Create rights for Nature including the rights to exist, persist, evolve, regenerate and be free from pollution and degradation
  • Require decision-makers to apply an Integrated Rights Framework that puts Nature first, followed by human rights, then economic, corporate and property rights
  • Impose a duty of care on public authorities, UK entities and some other persons whose activities may significantly affect Nature
  • Require Rights Impact Assessments for decisions, policies, plans, projects and financial decisions that may materially affect Nature
  • Require public authorities and UK entities to align policies, permits, investment, procurement, finance and reporting with the Act
  • Create a Nature Guardianship Council with guidance, monitoring, reporting, coordination and referral functions
  • Allow Bioregional Councils and Bioregional Implementation Plans to support local application of the Act
  • Create Nature Designated Entities for specific ecosystems or natural features, with representation or guardianship arrangements
  • Set up non-adversarial resolution processes, a Nature’s Rights Tribunal, enforcement notices, offences, remedies and appeals
  • Apply the Act to overseas activities of UK entities where they are under UK direction, control or influence
  • Require review of existing laws and a priority alignment programme, with phased commencement and periodic review

The stage line is the same Parliament bill record as the heading. The summary is AI-generated and not independently reviewed. Report an error.

Progress

  1. 1st reading · Lords
  2. 2nd reading · Lords
  3. Committee stage · Lords