Work

Do rights of nature protect the environment? Macro-level evidence from Ecuador

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Left-leaning populist regimes, such as Rafael Correa’s government in Ecuador (2007–2016), often claim to protect the environment from the negative effects of free-market regimes. This study examines the environmental impact in Ecuador following the 2008 Constitution, which was the first in the world to include rights of nature. We find no statistical evidence that Correa’s constitutional change had any measurable effect on Ecuador’s macro-level environmental outcomes, as captured by forest cover, greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy output, and carbon intensity of GDP.

Source: Constitutional Political Economy

DOI: 10.1007/s10602-026-09514-6

Authors: João P. Bastos, Nicolas Cachanosky, Justin Callais

Institutions: Texas Tech University, The University of Texas at El Paso

Language: English

Topic: Environmental law and policy

Subfield: Law

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Life on land, Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Climate action

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,390