September 7th, 2026
Rights of Nature in a Changing Local Government Landscape
What could England’s changing system of local government mean for the growing Rights of Nature movement?
Across England, a growing number of councils have passed motions recognising or supporting the Rights of Nature, particularly in relation to rivers. But with councils being reorganised, new unitary authorities being created and more powers moving to regional Strategic Authorities, what happens to that progress?
Our new report explores the risks and opportunities that local government reform presents for Rights of Nature in England. It draws on research carried out by students from ten universities across ELF’s policy clinic network.
What the report finds
The report identifies a range of risks and opportunities for Rights of Nature as England’s local government landscape changes.
Among the risks is the potential loss of existing Rights of Nature commitments as councils are abolished and replaced. Motions, charters and frameworks may not automatically transfer to new authorities, particularly where they have not yet been embedded into policies, plans or other operative frameworks.
But reform also creates new opportunities. Strategic Authorities will operate across larger geographical areas that may better reflect the scale of rivers, habitats and ecological networks. Emerging frameworks, including Local Nature Recovery Strategies and Spatial Development Strategies, could provide new routes for embedding Rights of Nature principles into environmental and planning policy.
A critical moment for Rights of Nature
The report calls on councils and communities to act now: protecting and strengthening existing commitments while looking for opportunities to embed Rights of Nature into the governance and decision-making structures now being created.
Local government reform could be a turning point for Rights of Nature in England. This report explores how we can protect the progress already made – and use this moment of change to take it further.
