The power of people: 5 reasons to be hopeful

Spanish lagoon granted legal personhood

In a European first, Spain embraced an idea from Indigenous science to protect an endangered body of water. This groundbreaking effort was led by a philosophy professor and a group of dedicated activists who launched a petition to grant the lagoon and its basin the rights of personhood. Over 600,000 Spanish citizens signed the petition, and Spain’s Senate approved a bill enshrining these new rights.

The new law recognises the lagoon and its basin as a legal person, granting it explicit legal rights. In April 2024 Professor Vicente, who spearheaded this initiative, was awarded the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize – an annual award given to 6 grassroots environmental leaders.

Granting “rights of nature” isn’t a new concept, but it’s gained popularity in recent years. We’re currently campaigning for the UK government to incorporate the right to a healthy environment into domestic law so that it's recognised as a human right and makes a practical difference to people's lives.

Onshore wind restrictions are easing in the England

Our new government is getting settled in. So regardless of who you voted for or how you feel about the results, making your voice heard is key. Change might sometimes feel out of reach, but we do have the power to influence it.

Take the recent lifting of barriers to onshore wind power in England. This victory didn’t just happen overnight. It’s the result of relentless campaigning by countless people. Throughout the election period, we urged political parties to be friends of the earth and commit to lifting restrictions on onshore wind farms in England. We even teamed up with Exeter University’s Environmental Intelligence Centre to identify the best locations for new onshore wind developments.

After years of effort from groups, communities and individuals across the UK, we can now celebrate this achievement and continue pushing for a renewable future.

Local communities tell Shell to go to hell

Standing up for what’s right isn’t always easy. For some, it can come at great risk to personal safety. Sinegugu Zukulu and Nonhle Mbuthuma’s lives were threatened when they opposed Shell’s proposed seismic blasting tests for oil and gas along the Wild Coast, South Africa.

But this didn’t stop them. They brought their community together and scored a big win by standing up for their right to protect the local marine environment.

Nonhle Mbuthuma told the Yale Environment 360: “According to our traditions, our ancestors reside in the ocean. We have a right under our country’s constitution to practice our culture, and that requires protecting our waters. So we decided to fight in the courts.”

Thanks to their tremendous dedication, they were victorious. The pair were instrumental in stopping oil and gas exploration in a biodiverse area, saving migratory whales, dolphins and other wildlife from harmful seismic testing.

Innovative sustainable solutions using waste

Did you go to Glastonbury this year? Then your bathroom breaks were more productive than you thought. The team Peequal collected festival goers’ urine and delivered it to NPK Recovery, which processes urine "into a safe and nutrient-rich alternative fertilizer… for use on crops." Perhaps the beer you drank at Glastonbury is now helping grow barley for more beer. Now that’s what we call sustainability.

Grassroots groups all over the UK are influencing decision makers

Of course, we have to give a mention to our fabulous local action groups, which form the largest environmental grassroots network in the UK.

Over the election period, our groups were very busy. At least 50 groups campaigned for climate and environmental justice in the lead-up to the general election, and at least 40 groups organised or took part in hustings. There they got the chance to quiz potential MPs – some of whom are now in office – on their commitment to climate and nature action.

Some of our groups got really creative, like Hillingdon Friends of the Earth’s “water hustings” – which is exactly how it sounds, out on the water. The group was joined by 5 election candidates, local residents, water testers and a conservation officer. Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, given the state of our water, the event attendees witnessed illegal discharge from the storm drain discharge area. It was reported that the stink was terrible. Live evidence of why we need to protect our water.

Our groups did an amazing job getting politicians to hear – and see – why climate and environmental action is needed, urgently.

One thing all of these amazing stories have in common is people. Never underestimate just how much power we have when we come together. Because together, we’re creating change.