Rights of Nature and Human Rights in Southeast Asia — Afternoon session

Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok
Thursday 1st December 2025, 9 am – 5 pm

Our planet and humanity are confronting multiple, interconnected ecological crises, from climate change and biodiversity loss to rising levels of pollution. Despite the proliferation of policies, laws, directives, and international treaties intended to protect the environment, the planet’s health continues to decline. In this context of faltering environmental governance, one emerging proposal is to embrace a new legal paradigm : the recognition of the rights of nature.

This approach challenges the dominant, human-centered view that treats nature primarily as an object, rooted in anthropocentric assumptions of a separation between humans and the rest of the natural world. Instead, the rights of nature movement advances an alternative perspective : one that sees the natural world as an interconnected system of diverse, interdependent forms of life, encompassing the biosphere in its entirety—both human and non-human.

In light of recent progress in debates and decision-making aimed at bringing human rights and the rights of nature closer together, Southeast Asia has witnessed the emergence of several initiatives. While the formal recognition of the “rights of nature” has not yet taken shape at the regional level, multilateral dialogues (ASEAN, OHCHR/ESCAP) are increasingly opening up to these issues. In this respect, the ASEAN Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment (ADER), adopted at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur in October 2025, marks a historic step in integrating environmental rights into ASEAN’s human rights framework.

Nevertheless, civil society organizations have voiced serious concerns about the drafting process, citing short public input periods, limited translation, and minimal consultation. Indigenous representation is particularly lacking, despite references to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Also, progress toward formal recognition of the Rights of Nature remains uneven and slowed by institutional inertia and limited inclusivity. Sustained pressure, reform, and meaningful participation—especially from indigenous and grassroots voices—will be essential to transform current momentum into lasting rights recognition.

Challenges thus remain, particularly regarding the drafting of texts and their legal force. Potential advances include stronger recognition of Environmental Human Rights Defenders (EHRDs), the establishment of binding mechanisms, and enhanced accountability. These legal and governance efforts can be further enriched by political, geographical, and anthropological perspectives. Against this backdrop, this conference will bring together governance actors, civil society representatives and researchers, to share recent progress and explore future challenges for the development of legislative frameworks linking nature rights and human rights.

 Watch the video of the afternoon session

00:00 Introductive Keynote by Bernard Formoso (Université Paul Valéry de Montpellier, France)
21:20 Catherine Baron (Prof., Sciences Po Toulouse)
37:59 Dayoon Kim (Research Associate, Stockholm Environment Institute)
54:25 Julien Claude (Prof. and Research Fellow, IRD)
1:14:11 Mike Hayes (Lecturer, Mahidol University)
1:25:30 Discussion
1:36:00 Presentation of the Working Group

For more information about this event.

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Music :
"Sneaky Adventure" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons : By Attribution 4.0 License
https://creativecommons.org/license...