Sovereignty of Nature: Economics, Politics, and the Financing Mechanism of Natural Rights-Led Governance
Protect First, Prosper Always. The Natural Rights Economy: What It Means for Water, Jobs and Money When Nature’s Own Laws Come First
Date: 12 November 2026 (Thursday)
Time: 16:00-16:55 (Türkiye Time, UTC+3)
Venue: Meeting Room 7, COP31, Antalya, Türkiye
What if protecting nature became the foundation of economic prosperity rather than a cost of development?
At COP31, Change Initiative presents the Natural Rights Economy, an economic approach grounded in Natural Rights-Led Governance (NRLG), recognising nature as a rights-holder and placing ecological integrity, intergenerational justice, and shared prosperity at the centre of economic decision-making.
The world spends approximately USD 7.3 trillion annually on activities that harm nature, while only USD 220 billion supports protection and restoration. Meanwhile, seven of nine planetary boundaries have been crossed, and developing countries face a projected gap of 800 million jobs.
The discussion explores how protecting shared rivers can strengthen economies, how USD 100 billion annually could support 7–17 million nature stewardship jobs, and how proposed financing mechanisms could mobilise USD 442–892 billion annually without creating new public debt.
Drawing on examples from South Asia and beyond, the session will introduce practical pathways for ecological protection, decent employment, transboundary water cooperation, and sustainable financing.
Protect First, Prosper Always because a thriving economy begins with a thriving planet.
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