Aruba is on the verge of a historic environmental milestone with the proposed constitutional amendment to recognize the Rights of Nature. This initiative, led by Minister of Nature Ursell Arends, aims to enshrine in law the protection, conservation, and restoration of Aruba’s ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.
The draft amendment, submitted on April 21, 2023, would make Aruba the second country in the world to constitutionally acknowledge nature’s inherent rights, following Ecuador. It reflects a growing global movement that emphasizes the interdependence between humans and the natural world.
The amendment also mandates the government to take preventive measures against climate change’s negative impacts. The public has been invited to submit written comments on the draft bill, which will be reviewed by Aruba’s advisory council before being sent to the legislature for approval. If passed, this would be the first constitutional change in Aruba since its independence from the Netherlands Antilles in 19861.
Aruba’s economy, heavily reliant on tourism, faces environmental challenges such as waste management from tourists, over-fishing by fisheries, and oceanic plastic pollution. The island is also experiencing climate change effects like coastal erosion and sea level rise. The proposed amendment is a significant step towards addressing these issues and ensuring a sustainable future for Aruba.
Read more at ‘Nature Has Rights’: Aruba Could Become 2nd Country to Recognize Rights of Nature in Constitution, by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes, EcoWatch, March 26, 2024.