Can a river be a person in the eyes of the law?
In short: Water is the foundation of human existence, yet our legal systems often treat it as a mere commodity. Legal scholar Kelsey Leonard argues that granting lakes and rivers legal personhood is not just a radical idea, but a necessary shift to protect our most vital resource from exploitation.
Currently, many legal frameworks leave bodies of water largely unprotected. This lack of legal standing contributes to a reality where many communities are left without access to safe drinking water. Because water is often viewed as a resource to be exploited rather than a living entity with inherent rights, it remains vulnerable to industrial and environmental degradation.
Kelsey Leonard, a legal scholar and water policy expert, proposes a fundamental transformation: granting water bodies legal personhood. This would provide lakes and rivers with the same legal rights as humans. By shifting the status of water from an object to a person, the legal system would be forced to recognize its intrinsic value, fundamentally changing how society manages and values these ecosystems.
Leonard brings a deep academic and practical background to this argument. McMaster University granted her a PhD in Comparative Public Policy, during which she examined how climate, territory, and governance affect Indigenous water security. A JD from Duquesne University and an Oxford Masters of Science in Water Science, Policy and Management provide additional depth to her skills.
Her work is grounded in high-level governance and advocacy. She serves as a member of the International Joint Commission's Great Lakes Water Quality Board while also acting as the Tribal Co-Lead for the Mid-Atlantic Committee on the Ocean for the Shinnecock Indian Nation. Her perspective combines rigorous academic research with the practical complexities of managing coastal and freshwater resources across multiple states.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Kelsey Leonard: Why lakes and rivers should have the same rights as humans
- Also: Why Lakes and Rivers should have the same Rights as Humans - MAHB
- Also: Kelsey Leonard: What If Lakes And Rivers Had Legal Rights?
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