Show notes
The “rights of nature” is the idea that if a corporation can have legal standing as a person, why can’t a river or a mountain? Thomas Linzey, one of the early architects of a legal framework for granting rights to nature, now believes that structure doesn’t go far enough: Even when ecosystems are granted rights, the land is still owned by someone or some entity, even if that is a land trust or conservancy. Through Linzey’s work in collaboration with the Sacred Contract Coalition, a 30-acre mountain in Colorado was recognized in June 2025 as the first mountain to own itself. What could this mean for protecting other places?Guests:Thomas Linzey, Senior Legal Counsel, Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights Crystal Wolfchild, Guardian of The MountainKumu Ramsay Taum, Cultural AdvisorHighlights:For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit our episode page at climateone.org ***Join Climate One for an induction cooking demonstration night on July 21, at 6 p.m. at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. Come enjoy delicious food and wine, and learn about why cooking with magnets beats cooking with gas. Tickets available at climateone.org/events ***Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today.***Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/adsLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
