In a world where exploitation of natural resources is commonplace, the idea of granting rights to entities such as rivers is as abstract as essential.  

In this month's episode, we explore the rights of nature with Mihnea Tănăsescu, a political ecologist who has spent many years immersed in the issue.  

He is a research professor at the University of Mons in Belgium. His current work focuses on the concept of political representation and the politics of ecological restoration and his most recent books are Understanding the Rights of Nature and Ecocene Politics. The latter was included in the 2023 Choice Review's Outstanding Academic Title list. 

Inner Green Deal host Tamsin Walker spoke to Mihnea about the arguments for and against granting rights to nature, where they have already been seen as a success and whether they can foster a new relationship between humans and the natural world around us. 

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Mihnea Tănăsescu: linkedin.com/in/mihnea-tanasescu-3b538876 
Understanding the Rights of Nature: https://www.transcript-verlag.de/978-3-8376-5431-8/understanding-the-rights-of-nature/. His book Ecocene Politics: https://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.0274

About the Inner Green Deal  

The Inner Green Deal is a non-profit organisation based in Cologne and Brussels with a growing community around the world. We address the human dimension of sustainability and support leaders, change makers and facilitators to accelerate the green transformation. We offer a range of short and longer programmes cultivating capacities such as collaboration, systems thinking and compassion.  

In addition to programmes for organisations, we empower facilitators and offer train-the-trainer programmes, access to curricula and digital tools to create cohesive communities of change. Our podcast is hosted and produced by Tamsin Walker. Executive producer is IGD co-founder Jeroen Janss. For more information, visit us on LinkedIn, innergreendeal.com or write to info@innergreendeal.com.   

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