International Social Science Journal (Chinese Edition)

No.2, 2020

Earth Jurisprudence: a new paradigm of law and governance

(Abstract)

Kumsil Kang

From 2016, the UN has initiated interactive dialogues on “Harmony with Nature” addressing Earth Jurisprudence on the International Mother Earth Day, which resulted in Earth Jurisprudence becoming an important subject in sustainable development. With Earth Jurisprudence coming into the picture, the UN Sustainable Development Goals point to a possible future in which the paradigm can shift from anthropocentrism to earth centrism. In the new paradigm, the Earth is the primary and humans exist in a mutually enhancing relationship with it. The author describes the beginning and development of Earth Jurisprudence, its principles, legislation cases on granting rights to Nature, giving us an overview of Earth Jurisprudence.