July 3, 2026 –Bill proposed by Baroness Bennett of the Green Party suggests possible jail terms of up to 20 years for those humans recklessly harming nature.

Watch along, Friday:

https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/6eded6df-69fb-42f6-b154-ec50a60c2d8d

By Mathew Carr

About 13:30: Bill was voted through to next stage, despite huge resistance in the Lords by Tories and Labour and others. Link to bill at the bottom.

13:24:

Labour UK is open to new instrument to help protect nature; can’t support this Green Party Nature’s Rights Bill

 

 

13:17: Labour says the bill is not necessary; bill could overlap with existing instruments; bill could direct resources into legal fights

13:14: Tory Earl Effingham rejects bill, citing need to protect economic growth and security; bodies it creates would be “immensely powerful”, he said

13.00 ish: LibDems seem to want the bill to go to committee 

12:30pm –Tory Lord (Baroness Coffey) says she will not support the bill; she says nature is not defined adequately by the legislation.

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Letter/email template

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Postcode]
[Your Email Address]
[Your Phone Number]
[Date]
[Name of Peer, MP]
House of Lords, Commons
London
SW1A 0PW
RE: Urgent Support for the Nature’s Rights Bill [HL] — or something better
Dear [Lord / Baroness] [Peer’s/ MP’s Last Name],

I am writing to you as a deeply concerned citizen to urge your full and urgent support for the Nature’s Rights Bill [HL] ahead of its upcoming debates and Second Reading. Or something better.

Our current legal framework treats the natural world merely as property or a resource to be managed and exploited

As we face unprecedented heatwaves, biodiversity loss and ecological degradation, it is clear that incremental regulations are no longer enough.

We need a fundamental shift in our legal architecture, and this Bill provides it.

I strongly support the Bill’s core provisions, particularly:

• The Establishment of Inherent Rights: Recognizing that nature has the legal right to exist, persist, and regenerate.
  • Nature Designated Entities: Allowing critical, vulnerable ecosystems—such as our rivers and ancient woodlands—to be granted distinct legal standing.
    • The Legal Guardianship System: Giving a voice to the environment through Bioregional Councils and human guardians who can legally defend these ecosystems in court.
• A Dedicated Nature’s Rights Tribunal: Ensuring that corporate polluters and public bodies are held genuinely accountable through robust criminal offences and mandatory Restoration Orders.
  ——
• We have seen successful legal frameworks like this transform environmental protection internationally, from New Zealand to Ecuador.
• It is time for the UK to show true global leadership in Earth jurisprudence and to stop hiding behind the skirts of brutal US President Donald Trump, who appears to hate everything that is good for climate and nature…and for the people.
• As a member of the UK parliament, you have a vital opportunity to champion this pioneering legislation and safeguard our environment for generations to come.
• I urge you to attend the debates, speak in support of the Bill, and vote to progress it through Parliament.
• Thank you for your time, your leadership, and your consideration of this urgent matter. I look forward to hearing your position on the Bill.
• 
  Yours sincerely,
  [Your Signature]
  [Your Printed Name]

July 3

https://lordsbusiness.parliament.uk/documents?businessPaperDate=2026-07-03

Offences and liability section 33

— A person commits an offence under this Act if— (a) the person intentionally or recklessly causes serious harm to Nature in breach of the rights and duties established under this Act, (b) (c) (d) the person knowingly fails to comply with an enforcement notice, restoration order, injunction or other order made under this Act, the person knowingly or recklessly provides false or misleading information required under this Act, or the person intentionally obstructs the Nature Guardianship Council, a Bioregional Council, the Tribunal or a person lawfully exercising functions under this Act. A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable— (a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 20 years, or to a fine, or to both; (b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to a fine, or to both. Where an offence under this Act is committed by a legal entity and is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to neglect by, an officer of the entity, that officer also commits the offence. In subsection (3), “officer” includes a director, manager, secretary, partner, trustee or other person purporting to act in a similar capacity. Nothing in this section prevents civil, administrative, regulatory or restorative remedies from being granted in relation to conduct that does not constitute an offence. Nothing in this section makes Nature or a Nature Designated Entity liable for any offence.

For full bill see here

nature’s rights bill 8295 

Gemini rough illustration