ABSTRACT
In the last fifty years, environmental laws have failed to reduce pollution and deterioration of the ecosystems on which humans depend. One of the fundamental reasons why environmental law is not effective in protecting Nature is the fact that the occidental model that dominates the planet has never replaced the idea of unlimited exploitation of the planet promoted by an anthropocentric paradigm. We need to shift to an eco-centric paradigm based on the belonging and interaction of human beings with Nature, which recognises the value and Rights of Nature. We present the first legal recognition of the Rights of Nature in Europe: the Mar Menor coastal lagoon and its basin, an ecosystem with legal personhood and rights, recognised by Spanish Parliament in September 2022. The Mar Menor gained its legal status through a legislative process initiated by citizens.
