The interactive dialogues of UN harmony with nature. For a paradigmatic shift to Earth-centred governance

Classical environmental law is characterized by respecting the outlined anthropocentric paradigm, with human beings at the centre and the environment and its natural resources seen as “services” to the human societies. However, in recent years there has been growing recognition, in national and international contexts, that we need to move beyond the anthropocentric epoch as reflected in environmental law. Harmony with Nature, a UN-led programme, is the international entity that promotes a paradigmatic shift from anthropocentric environmental law by focusing on recent developments of the so-called Earth Jurisprudence. In its first decade of work, which has been celebrated this year (2020), Harmony with Nature has hosted ten Interactive Dialogues, which are initiatives aimed at commemorating International Mother Earth Day, recurring on the 22 of April since the year 2009. They have brought to the forefront the need to move away from a human-centred worldview to an Earth-centred legal and governance system that rebalances the relationship between humans and the planet. This paper focuses on the recognition of rights of Nature within the UN system and national contexts, examining the important role of the Harmony with Nature’s Dialogues in fostering a new legal paradigm that ultimately see its goal in promoting the advancement of Earth Jurisprudence.