With nature at the center of decision-making

With Nature at the Heart of Decision-Making" forms part of the Manuel Ballbé Chair on Human Security and Global Law's white paper series, dedicated to exploring the potential of eco-systemic thinking. This work centrally aims to analyze and propose a transition toward an ecocentric decision-making modelgrounded in Nature, moving beyond the dominant anthropocentric paradigms in public policy, environmental regulation, global governance, and both public and private decision-making processes.

Acknowledging the current ecological crisis—exacerbated by neoliberal policies, unchecked extractivism, and growing environmental inequality between the Global North and South—the reflections presented here, stemming from my research, argue for placing Nature at the core of all political, economic, and legal decisions (public and private).

This analysis invites readers to reconsider the State-Society-Nature relationship, emphasizing the interdependence between ecological health and human well-being as the foundation for achieving true ecocentric security. Through a critical lens, it proposes an ecocentric model that:

• Recognizes the Rights of Nature

• Transforms environmental and natural resource governance via a polycentric approach

• Engages multi-level decision-making spaces (from local communities to global institutions)

Content Overview:The white paper begins by envisioning an ecocentric framework for Nature-based decision-making, stressing the urgent need to redefine humanity's relationship with Nature. It calls for historical reflection to recognize our profound interdependence with the natural world. Further sections examine:

• Colonial legacies and ongoing neocolonial dynamics in environmental exploitation

• Environmental impacts on democratic systems

• Risks to ecological integrity within current governance models

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Finally, it outlines principles for designing Anthropocene-era policies and decision frameworks rooted in ecocentrism and ecological justice. This requires:

• Deep societal education and awareness-building

• Ethical and ecological integration across all human development spheres

• A new intergenerationally just and equitable action framework centered on Nature.