Abstract
Wessels explores the feasibility of existing delictual (or tort) remedies, in the context of civil or private litigation, to accommodate the principles of Earth jurisprudence, restorative justice, and ecological restoration, in order to meaningfully redress the harm suffered by Nature. The principles of Earth jurisprudence, restorative justice, and ecological restorative justice form an analytical and normative framework from which the development of existing delictual remedies are considered. A brief comparison between the principles of Earth jurisprudence, restorative justice, and ecological restoration are explored, and thought is given to why these principles must be forged together, to create the bedrock which could support an interdisciplinary approach to substantively redress harm to Nature within existing legal systems. This normative analysis gives insight into whether there are existing concepts in South African law which complement those of Earth jurisprudence, restorative justice, and ecological restoration. Finally, consideration is given to whether there are remedies in the South African law of delict which already align with or which could be developed in accordance with Earth jurisprudence, restorative justice, and ecological restoration and which could meaningfully redress harm to Nature.
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Notes
- 1.
See https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/press-release/new-un-decade-ecosystem-restoration-offers-unparalleled-opportunity (last accessed 25 January 2022).
- 2.
The State of the Netherlands (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy) v Stichting Urgenda, 2018 (Netherlands) (see https://www.urgenda.nl/en/themas/climate-case/).
- 3.
José Daniel Rodríguez Peña, et al. v. Presidency of the Republic of Colombia, et al. (see http://climatecasechart.com/non-us-case/future-generation-v-ministry-environment others/#:~:text=The%20plaintiffs%20allege%20that%20climate,%2D2018%2C%20threatens%20plaintiffs).
- 4.
District Court of The Hague, Milieudefensie et al. v Royal Dutch Shell PLC (26 May 2021) C/09/571932/HA ZA 19-379, English Version (Milieudefensie v RDS) para 5.3.
- 5.
See footnotes 1 and 2 in Chap. 4 for explanation of the terms ‘Earth’, ‘Earth Community’, ‘Mother Earth’, ‘Nature’ ‘Earth Community’. These terms are afforded the same meaning in this chapter.
- 6.
See Sect. 2 in Chap. 4, in which the meaning of Earth jurisprudence and the rights of Nature are discussed.
- 7.
In the context of this chapter, horizontal application of rights refers to rights which are applied against legal subjects by one another, and which rights also carry obligations and duties, such as that the rights afforded to legal subjects (e.g. right to life) which may not be infringed upon by other legal subjects. Vertical applications of rights refers to rights which must be protected by and applied against public authorities, such as government.
- 8.
See Sect. 4 below for the discussion of how the Columbian Constitutional Court’s recognition of the Atrato River confirmed that communities and the government must enable these rights of Nature, and consequently there was a change in the horizontal application of rights as a result of the recognition of the rights of Nature.
- 9.
Legal systems can broadly be classified as either a common law system (which originated from England during the Middle Ages) or civil law systems (as developed in continental Europe). A few countries have a hybrid legal system, containing elements of both the common law and civil law systems.
- 10.
South Africa, due to being colonized first by the Dutch in the seventeenth century and subsequently by the English, has a hybrid legal system, in that it incorporates elements from both the common law and civil law systems.
- 11.
Afrikaans translation for ‘Earth Community’.
- 12.
See Chap. 4, Sect. 4.1 for a discussion on the principles of Earth jurisprudence, and how it overlaps with restorative justice.
- 13.
See Chap. 4, Sect. 4 for a discussion of the similarities between Earth Jurisprudence and restorative justice and why remedies, which are embedded in restorative justice values and practices, enable meaningful recourse to the rights of Nature.
- 14.
‘ERE’ is a preposition meaning before or in time but is also used in this chapter as an acronym for ‘Earth justice, Restorative justice and Ecological restoration’.
- 15.
Article 7(6) of the Law of the Rights of Mother Earth, Law 071 of 2010.
- 16.
Judgment T-622/16 (The Atrato River Case), Constitutional Court of Colombia (2016), translated by the Dignity Rights Project. Retrieved from: http://files.harmonywithnatureun.org/uploads/upload838.pdf (last accessed 25 January 2022).
- 17.
2017 (4) BCLR 517 (CC), para 56. Retrieved from: http://www.saflii.org/za/cases/ZACC/2016/46.html (last accessed 31 January 2022).
- 18.
Section 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996).
- 19.
S v Makwanyane 1995 3 SA 391 (CC) para 224. Retrieved from: https://lawlibrary.org.za/za/judgment/constitutional-court-south-africa/1995/3 (last accessed 31 January 2022).
- 20.
Port Elizabeth Municipality v Various Occupiers 2005 1 SA 217 (CC). Retrieved from: https://collections.concourt.org.za/handle/20.500.12144/2209 (last accessed 31 January 2022).
- 21.
Dikoko v Mokhatla 2006 SA 235 (CC). Retrieved from: https://collections.concourt.org.za/handle/20.500.12144/2489 (last accessed 31 January 2022).
- 22.
Ibid., para 68.
- 23.
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996, article 8(3)).
- 24.
A subjective right is a legally supported claim by a legal subject to a legal object by virtue of which the subject acquires particular powers regarding the object. Additionally, any third party is legally obliged to respect the subject’s powers and claim to the specific object. See du Plessis (1999, p. 137).
- 25.
Hichange Investments (Pty) Ltd v Cape Produce Company (Pty) Ltd t/a Pelts Products and others [2004] JOL 12538 (E). Retrieved from: https://www.informea.org/en/court-decision/hichange-investments-pty-ltd-v-cape-produce-co-pty-ltd-ta-pelts-products-and-others (last accessed 31 January 2022).
- 26.
2006 SA 235 (CC).
- 27.
Union Government (Minister of Railways & Harbours) v Warneke</Emphasis> 1911 AD 657 662. Retrieved from: https://www.coursehero.com/file/71589066/Union-Government-v-Warnekepdf/ (last accessed 31 January 2022).
- 28.
In Sect. 3 of Chap. 4, examples of restorative justice processes are provided, which could be implemented when Nature’s rights are infringed.
- 29.
In South African law, failing to comply with an order of court is regarded as an offence. This offence is referred to as ‘contempt of court’.
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Wessels, H. (2022). Nature’s Rights & Developing Remedies: Enabling Substantive and Restorative Relief in Civil Litigation. In: Pali, B., Forsyth, M., Tepper, F. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Environmental Restorative Justice. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04223-2_5
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