Law
Legal Personhood for Natural Entities (Rivers and Forests)
Quick fact
In 2017, New Zealand's Whanganui River became the first river in the world to be legally recognized as a person, with two guardians appointed to represent its interests in court.
Why this is interesting
What if a river could sue a polluter? In some places, that is not a metaphor—it's law. From New Zealand to Ecuador, natural features are being given legal personhood, granting rivers and forests the right to stand in court.