Panama, Tonga, Vanuatu launch UN coalition to recognize universal rights of nature

October 2, 2026 at 08:55 PM2 min

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Panama, Tonga and Vanuatu launched the For Nature Coalition of States at the UN General Assembly on 24 September to advance a Universal Declaration of the Rights of Nature. The coalition, with Palau and Dominica among founding members, aims to build diplomatic support for recognizing nature as a subject of rights with intrinsic value. The initiative complements formal intergovernmental negotiations within the UN's Harmony with Nature process.

Key Facts

Panama, Tonga and Vanuatu launched the For Nature Coalition of States on 24 September at the UN General Assembly in New York.
Palau and Dominica are among the founding members of the coalition.
The coalition supports a proposed UN Universal Declaration of the Rights of Nature as part of the UN's Harmony with Nature process.
Panama's President José Raúl Mulino proposed recognizing the universal rights of nature at the UN General Assembly in September.
Joining the coalition does not imply endorsement of any specific legal framework or negotiated outcome.

Coalition Launch

Panama, Tonga and Vanuatu launched the For Nature Coalition of States on 24 September at the UN General Assembly in New York. Palau and Dominica are among the founding members of the coalition. The coalition is an informal, decentralized and voluntary platform for member states to exchange experiences and contribute to diplomatic engagement on the proposed UN Universal Declaration of the Rights of Nature. It complements, rather than replaces, formal intergovernmental negotiations in the General Assembly.

Legal Paradigm Shift

Panama's President José Raúl Mulino proposed recognizing the universal rights of nature at the UN General Assembly in September. The proposal aims to recognize nature as a direct subject of rights with intrinsic value. Existing legal frameworks are not built to stop catastrophic climate and ecological change, according to the coalition's rationale. Recognizing the rights of nature would directly change how society interacts with nature, requiring the needs of healthy natural ecosystems to be considered in all decision-making processes.