But the existing corporate hegemony has happily coexisted with those environmental laws.Ĭontinuing down this path while politely curtseying Nature as a damsel in distress, as Prince Charles suggests, changes nothing. 'Environmentalists' historic failures show need for powerful new paradigmįor over 50 years, environmentalists have tried to 'protect the environment' by enforcing regulations that decisively avoid interfering with corporate profits. Because this manifesto is all about industry and extraction and consumerism 'leading the way.' The exact opposite of what is needed. To help us succeed, and to complement global efforts across public, private and philanthropic sectors, I am calling on CEOs from around the world to engage and play their part in leading the global transition.' I think,' Pella says, 'it is such a sign of the times to have a royalty pointing at the Magna Carta to nicely ask the powers of today, corporations, to behave.

'Today must be the decisive moment that we make sustainability the growth story of our time, while positioning Nature as the engine of our economy. but then when I read the document, he says. 'But Prince Charles' Terra Carta isn't going back to first principles. 'It is very important to go back to first principles, like Magna Carta,' Pella continues. Thiel is the chairperson of End Ecocide Sweden and coordinator of the Swedish Network for Rights of Nature. The Prince asks industry to be 'a little nicer to nature,' as my colleague Pella Thiel put it. Unlike Rights of Nature advanced by indigenous-led social movements that subordinate wealth accumulation, exploitation and extraction to the Rights of Nature, Terra Carta instead proposes voluntary commitments from the worst corporate offenders. Little surprise that it's been proposed by royalty. Unlike Rights of Nature advanced by indigenous-led social movements that subordinate wealth accumulation, exploitation and extraction to the Rights of Nature, Terra Carta instead proposes voluntary commitments from the worst corporate offenders.Īrticle 1 of the Terra Carta calls for 'accelerating sustainable industries, businesses, products, services and supply chains while working within and across industries.' It advocates 'encouraging innovative financial instruments in order to scale and accelerate transition efforts across businesses, industries and countries.' This is an aggravated appropriation of the idea of Rights of Nature for the purpose of perpetuating the existing system of privilege, wealth and power. However, rather than advocate for establishing and defending legally enforceable rights inherent in natural communities and ecosystems, the Prince suggests honoring the Rights of Nature can be accomplished through new industrial growth under the control of corporate CEOs. 'As we strive to imagine the next 800 years of human progress, the fundamental rights and value of Nature must represent a step-change in our 'future of industry' and 'future of economy' approach.' 'If we consider the legacy of our generation, more than 800 years ago, Magna Carta inspired a belief in the fundamental rights and liberties of people,' he writes in the Forward. The prince links the document to the rights of ecosystems, saying the next logical step from the Magna Carta is the eventual incorporation of Nature into the social compact with sovereignty.

On January 11, 2021, the Prince of Wales and maybe next king of England introduced a Terra Carta, 'a charter that puts sustainability at the heart of the private sector.' The declaration dangerously waters down recognition and enforcement of Rights of Nature, a radical demand that has been advancing for years.

Charles prince of wales 2021