Our Research
YERA Hub stands out for its innovative interdisciplinary research approach, which integrates legal, economic, and geoscientific perspectives. This comprehensive methodology enhances the quality and applicability of its findings, enabling the development of effective solutions to complex environmental challenges.
Conceptualising Rights of Nature at the EU Level
This project explores the potential of Rights of Nature in the European Union. Investigating the Rights of Nature has many dimensions, encompassing both procedural aspects, such as the establishment of new legal entities and their standing in legal processes, and substantive elements, including specific rights that are transferred to natural entities. The primary focus of the project is the conceptualisation of Rights of Nature in an EU context. We will answer the question of how Rights of Nature could and should manifest itself in EU law. Our approach is interdisciplinary, involving legal, economic, and geoscientific perspectives.
The Environmental Crime Directive
The European Crime Directive (ECD) is the primary European tool utilising criminal law to protect our environment. It addresses severe environmental harm and imposes criminal sanctions. Environmental crimes rank fourth globally, following drug smuggling, counterfeiting, and human trafficking. Impacts include decreased biodiversity, loss of income, and deteriorated human health. The ECD addresses severe environmental harm and ranks environmental crimes among the top global offences. This project aims to research the revised ECD to enhance its effectiveness in EU law enforcement. YERA Hub aims to make EU environmental criminal law more accessible and actionable, engaging with civil society and NGOs to steer effective environmental advocacy.