Harmony Institute Director, Nick Campion, Speaks at House of Lords on Nature’s Rights Legislation

Associate Professor Nick Campion, Director of the Harmony Institute at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), was invited to speak at exclusive roundtable debate held in the House of Lords to mark the launch of the UK Nature’s Rights Bill—a policy-ready proposal that introduces an Integrated Rights Framework (IRF) to UK law. 

The IRF recognises that Nature, people and the economy are not separate systems—people and the economy are entirely dependent on Nature. It therefore places Nature’s rights as the foundation and embeds human and economic rights within those ecological limits, guiding decisions in energy, land and water so life can thrive.

The meeting was hosted by Baroness Natalie Bennett of Manor Castle and featured Chris Packham CBE (broadcaster, naturalist and conservationist), Mumta Ito (Founder, Nature’s Rights; Lead author of the UK Nature’s Rights Bill), Alister Scott (CEO, Global Rewilding), as well as Associate Professor Nick Campion.

Speaking on the tradition of Harmony in British thought and practice, Nick Campion, who is also the programme director for the MA in Ecology and Spirituality, argued that understanding Nature as a single integrated whole is embedded in classical ideas of Harmony as well as in the lived experience of rivers, mountains, seasons and cycles. He also emphasised a close  alignment with Wales’s Well-being of Future Generations Act, under which planning must enhance a biodiverse natural environment and healthy functioning ecosystems—making the step to recognising Nature’s rights both logical and timely. He also highlighted urgent UK evidence of decline across species and habitats, underscoring the need for a coherent legal framework that prevents harm in the first place, rather than simply managing it.

Mumta Ito, Founder of Nature’s Rights and lead author of the Bill, said:

“Nature, people and the economy are not separate—people and the economy are entirely dependent on Nature. The UK Nature’s Rights Bill turns that reality into law with an Integrated Rights Framework that puts Nature’s rights as the foundation and embeds human and economic rights within those limits. This moves the UK from managing damage to designing regeneration—so decisions in energy, land and water create long-term wellbeing.”

Chris Packham CBE said:

“We’re in a biodiversity and climate emergency. The Nature’s Rights Bill is a practical step that embeds nature into everyday decision-making so we prevent harm rather than clean up after it. Giving nature a voice in law is beyond overdue and urgently needed.”

Alister Scott added:

“The UK Nature’s Rights Bill is a key missing piece that aligns our economy and planning system with living systems, so that rewilding can move from the margins to the mainstream. Rewilding restores the carbon cycle and the water cycle together. This Bill hard-wires that insight into law so climate action delivers living landscapes, not just targets on paper.”

Baroness Natalie Bennett, chairing, said:

“Our economies, our lives, are all entirely dependent on Nature. In simple terms there are no jobs on a dead planet, and—unless we look after the rights of Nature—there’s a very grave risk that that’s the direction we’re heading in.”

The event was attended by around thirty representatives of environmental organisations. 

Nick Campion commented: “I was very impressed with the level of commitment, engagement and debate of all who took part. The more people and organisations can get behind this legislation, the better our chances of saving and enriching our natural environment with benefits to all who live in our islands”.

Photo (L–R): Alister Scott (CEO, Global Rewilding), Mumta Ito (Founder, Nature’s Rights; Lead author, UK Nature’s Rights Bill), Associate Professor Nick Campion (Director, Harmony Institute, UWTSD), Chris Packham CBE (broadcaster, naturalist, conservationist).

For the Harmony Institute see our outreach page, https://harmonyinitiative.net/aboutus.php

For the Natures Rights Bill see https://www.natures-rights.org/uk-bill

The Integrated Rights Framework: www.natures-rights.org/framework

Further Information

Eleri Beynon

Head
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: e.beynon@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 01267 676790