When Nature Is Granted Its Rights!

A major step forward in the legal recognition of the living world.

A historic moment took place today at the French National Assembly: researchers, legal experts, artists and elected officials were brought together at the invitation of MP Charles Fournier (Indre-et-Loire) to place the Rights of Nature on the national and European legislative agenda.

Alongside the mayors of Nantes, Lyon and Tours, Yann Galut, Mayor of Bourges, underlined the fundamental importance of these issues for the Berry region: “When you look at the state of the world today, it’s hard not to make the question of Nature a priority.”

All stakeholders across the territory were fully engaged in this landmark initiative. Among the speakers was Camille de Toledo, a key artist in our European Capital of Culture project, one of the early advocates for the recognition of rights for living beings, who reaffirmed the essential role of art and culture in rethinking our relationship with nature.

This ambition is one that Bourges 2028 has championed from day one: a living, rooted culture, fully embedded in the responses we must build to meet the ecological challenges of our time—where artists and citizens are the driving forces of this transformation, working towards a truly sustainable future.

© Pascal Keiser