Mari Margil and Thomas Linzey of the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights, leading figures in the global movement to recognize the legal rights of ecosystems and nature, share exciting

Mari Margil and Thomas Linzey of the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights, leading figures in the global movement to recognize the legal rights of ecosystems and nature, share exciting recent developments in that effort. They highlight breakthroughs in tribal nations, communities, and countries around the world. They explain how advancing the rights of nature in legal codes and constitutions can lead to a radical transformation in humankind’s relationship with the natural world.

Thomas Linzey and Mari Margil delivered this talk at the 2020 Bioneers Conference, introduced by Kenny Ausubel. Watch more conference videos at https://bioneers.org/2020talks/

Mari Margil, Executive Director of the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights, leads its International Center for the Rights of Nature. Previously Associate Director of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, she assisted the first places in the world to secure the Rights of Nature in law, including Ecuador. She works internationally as well as with Indigenous peoples and tribal nations to advance Rights of Nature legal and policy frameworks. Mari is a co-author of: The Bottom Line or Public Health and Exploring Wild Law: The Philosophy of Earth Jurisprudence.



Thomas Linzey, Senior Counsel for the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights (CDER), co-founded the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund and the Daniel Pennock Democracy School (which has graduated over 5,000 lawyers, activists, and municipal officials nationally to fight to elevate the rights of their communities over corporate rights). He is the author of several books, including: Be The Change: How to Get What You Want in Your Community; On Community Civil Disobedience in the Name of Sustainability; and co-author of: We the People: Stories from the Community Rights Movement in the United States.



To learn more about Mari and Thom's work, visit https://centerforenvironmentalrights.org

Join a conversation with leaders from the nation's top environmental organizations as they address climate action, race, and health crises. Executives from Greenpeace (Annie Leonard), NRDC (Gina

Join a conversation with leaders from the nation's top environmental organizations as they address climate action, race, and health crises. Executives from Greenpeace (Annie Leonard), NRDC (Gina McCarthy), and 350.org (Tamara Toles O'Laughlin), alongside host Greg Dalton, will discuss aligning political ambitions with climate science and supporting recovery plans that bolster clean energy jobs and strengthen communities.

For more information, including upcoming events, membership, and past programs, visit the [Commonwealth Club](https://www.commonwealthclub.org/). You can also [Donate](https://support.commonwealthclub.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=298) to support their work, [subscribe to their YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/user/commonwealthclub), or follow them on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/thecommonwealthclub/).

The Women's Earth and Climate Network (WECAN) hosted its Global Women's Assembly for Climate Justice: Path to COP30 and Beyond from June 23-28, 2025. This event gathered over 125 grassroots and

The Women's Earth and Climate Network (WECAN) hosted its Global Women's Assembly for Climate Justice: Path to COP30 and Beyond from June 23-28, 2025. This event gathered over 125 grassroots and frontline women leaders, advocates, and policymakers from 50 countries to share diverse visions and strategies for a just and healthy world across 25 panels.

A significant panel, "Impacts of the Fossil Fuel Industry in North America," took place on June 25th. Featured speakers included Sharon Lavigne (RISE St. James), Tara Houska (Giniw Collective), Nalleli Cobo (People not Pozos, South Central Youth Leadership Coalition), and Dr. Laalitha Surapaneni, a physician.

The energy transition is critical, with the 2020s marking a decisive decade for climate justice. As fossil fuels peak, we must rapidly scale renewables, ensuring an equitable new energy economy.

The energy transition is critical, with the 2020s marking a decisive decade for climate justice. As fossil fuels peak, we must rapidly scale renewables, ensuring an equitable new energy economy. Visionary "green" entrepreneur Danny Kennedy, founder of New Energy Nexus, proposes a "3D" clean energy future: distributed, decentralized in ownership, and democratized in control, driven by global grassroots entrepreneurship.

Kennedy, a seasoned eco-activist and clean-tech leader, co-founded Sungevity and Powerhouse. He now serves as CEO of New Energy Nexus, a global nonprofit providing funds, accelerators, and networks to advance clean energy innovation and adoption worldwide.

Learn more at bioneers.org.

Angela Francis, a mixed-race economist, offers a unique perspective on tackling climate change. She argues that the path to a green economy lies in demonstrating how it can immediately improve

Angela Francis, a mixed-race economist, offers a unique perspective on tackling climate change. She argues that the path to a green economy lies in demonstrating how it can immediately improve people's lives and solve existing societal problems, rather than just adding environmental concerns to a long list of priorities.

With 18 years in economic development, Angela has consistently focused on aligning human systems—such as energy and transport—with planetary needs. As Chief Advisor on Economics and Economic Development at WWF, she provides expertise across climate, food, and biodiversity, leading green transition policy.

This talk was given at a TEDx event. Learn more at ted.com/tedx.

Jeff Corwin joins conservationists in California to protect pinnipeds, including elephant seals and sea lions. Organizations like the Marine Mammal Care Center and Defenders of Wildlife are

Jeff Corwin joins conservationists in California to protect pinnipeds, including elephant seals and sea lions. Organizations like the Marine Mammal Care Center and Defenders of Wildlife are crucial in rescuing and rehabilitating these animals, which face severe threats from climate change, overfishing, habitat loss, and plastic pollution.

Corwin assists Dr. Lauren Palmer and Andy Johnson in rehabilitating four malnourished California sea lion pups, one of whom ingested plastic. After critical care, tagging, and weighing, the pups are successfully released back into the wild. This effort underscores the vital role of conservation in giving endangered animals a second chance and addressing environmental challenges for ecosystem health.

Farmers face obstacles to participating in carbon markets, despite the effectiveness of tree and soil carbon sequestration in combating climate change. Drawing on nearly a decade of work in Haiti,

Farmers face obstacles to participating in carbon markets, despite the effectiveness of tree and soil carbon sequestration in combating climate change. Drawing on nearly a decade of work in Haiti, ecologist Deborah McGrath proposes a win-win strategy for climate justice.

As the Carl Biehl Professor of International Studies and Assistant Dean for the Environment at the University of the South, Dr. McGrath advocates for colleges like Sewanee to invest in small farmers. This approach reduces institutional carbon footprints while integrating trees into farming strategies that benefit people, planet, and profit. She values collaborating with farmers and students for their environmental restoration potential.

This talk was presented at a TEDx event. Learn more at ted.com/tedx.

Charles Clover's "Rewilding the Sea: How to Save Our Oceans" is an essential book urging us to rethink our relationship with nature to save our oceans and life support system. It addresses

Charles Clover's "Rewilding the Sea: How to Save Our Oceans" is an essential book urging us to rethink our relationship with nature to save our oceans and life support system. It addresses critical challenges like overfishing, pollution, and acidification, revealing how trawling and dredging generate more CO2 than aviation, damaging vital carbon sinks.

Clover, co-founder of the Blue Marine Foundation, demonstrates that change is achievable. "Rewilding the Sea" celebrates community and fisherman engagement, allowing nature to repair itself. His previous work, "The End of The Line," exposed global overfishing and inspired the foundation. For more information, visit the Blue Marine Foundation. Get the book here. Moderated by Matt Bongiovi.

Citizens' Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to addressing the climate crisis. It aims to create the political will for a livable world by empowering

Citizens' Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to addressing the climate crisis. It aims to create the political will for a livable world by empowering individuals to exercise personal and political power.

Focusing on national policies, CCL works to tackle the national and global climate crisis.