River Rights, Water Justice and New Perspectives on the Protection of Our Waters

On June 18 and 19, 2026, the Blue Community Berlin, together with GRÜNE LIGA and its partner organizations, welcomed Australian legal scholar and Blue Community Ambassador Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erin O'Donnell to Berlin. As part of her European tour, she discussed river rights, water protection and new legal approaches to nature with representatives from academia, civil society and environmental organizations.

In addition to the public panel discussion and a film evening, the program also included visits to Berlin schools and an excursion to innovative water concepts.

Rivers as Legal Subjects – Lecture and Panel Discussion at aquarium

The public events kicked off with the lecture "Upholding the Rights of River Persons: Enforcement or Relational Repair?" at aquarium at Kottbusser Tor. The event was hosted by Living Rivers Foundation.

Erin O'Donnell presented the international movement for the rights of nature and explained why classical water law still treats rivers primarily as resources and objects of property. She contrasted this with the concept of "Relational Repair" – the restoration of a respectful relationship between humans and rivers. She argued, that rights for rivers are not just a legal instrument but can initiate a fundamental shift in perspective: away from the question of how water can be used – toward the question of what rivers need for their health and long-term survival.

Using international examples, including the Australian river Birrarung (Yarra River) and New Zealand's Whanganui River, she showed both the possibilities and the limitations of recognizing rivers as legal subjects. What matters is not just granting new rights, but their concrete implementation and the willingness to fundamentally evolve existing legal and political structures.

Presentation of Erin O'Donnell (PDF)

Recognizing the Rights of the Spree

Following this, Erin O'Donnell discussed the situation of the Spree and other waters in Berlin and Brandenburg together with Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schorcht (Deputy Federal Chairman of GRÜNE LIGA) as well as Kaa Faensen and Hendrik von Schlieben (Initiative "Rights for the Spree"). Topics included the consequences of climate change, the phasing out of lignite mine drainage water and increasing conflicts about water use. There was consensus that the protection of rivers requires both political reforms and a stronger societal awareness of the value of living waters.

The discussion made clear that the ideas of the international river rights movement are becoming increasingly relevant for Berlin and Brandenburg as well. The exchange with Erin O'Donnell provided many valuable impulses and showed how important the networking of initiatives, environmental organizations, academia and engaged citizens is for advancing the protection of our waters together. GRÜNE LIGA supports this exchange (for example within the framework of the Wasservernetzung Berlin-Brandenburg) as well as the goal of bringing the rights of the Spree more strongly into public focus. Together we can help to secure stronger protection and more political attention for the Spree as Berlin's lifeline.

Please also support the petition "Recognize the Rights of the Spree!".

The event was moderated by Michael Bender (Head of Water Policy Office of GRÜNE LIGA and Living Rivers Foundation). Afterwards, participants had the opportunity to speak with Erin O'Donnell over finger food and drinks.

Film Evening at the Patagonia Store: Stories of People and Their Rivers

After the panel discussion, participants moved on to the Patagonia Store Berlin, which invited guests to a film evening under the title "We Are River People! Aren't We?". Numerous guests from the Berlin outdoor community, the Blue Community Berlin, the initiative "Right for the Spree", GRÜNE LIGA and other environmental initiatives gathered here near Alexanderplatz to watch three short films about rivers and their significance for people and nature.

After a welcome by Tobias Schäfer, the films "Luma", "Undammed" and "The River Is Me" were shown. They tell stories of people around the world working for free-flowing rivers and the rights of nature, highlighting the close connection of indigenous communities with their waters.

In the subsequent discussion, Erin O'Donnell contextualized the films from a legal perspective. Using the example of the Treaty of Waitangi, she explained the historical background of recognizing the Whanganui River as a legal person, while also making clear that legal recognition alone does not guarantee ecological improvements. What matters is how these rights are actually implemented and whether they lead to a changed societal relationship with rivers.

The following exchange with the audience generated numerous conversations about the international development of river rights and their significance for our rivers in Berlin and Brandenburg. A Spree quiz developed by GRÜNE LIGA interns, which invited guests to test their knowledge about Berlin's most important river, also provided a local touch.

Excursion to Innovative Water Concepts at Potsdamer Platz

On the second day of the event, Erwin Nolde, a pioneer in decentralized water and rainwater use, led participants through the water treatment facility of the Block 6 building complex at Potsdamer Platz. He explained the integrated rainwater and greywater management system that has been in place for many years and is considered as an European flagship project for sustainable urban development.

During the tour, it was explained in detail how greywater from sinks and showers can be reused. These closed water cycles save valuable drinking water, relieve the sewage system and support the natural water balance in densely built-up urban areas. The excursion demonstrated that innovative technical solutions can make an important contribution to climate-adapted and water-sensitive urban development.

Exchange with Berlin Schools

In addition to the public events, Erin O'Donnell together with representatives of the World Peace Service visited the Berlin Metropolitan School and a school of the Königin-Luise-Stiftung. In conversations with students, she presented the international movement for the rights of nature and discussed questions about water as a human right, climate justice and sustainable water protection. The visits offered young people the opportunity to learn about global environmental issues from an international perspective and to speak with a leading expert about future challenges in dealing with water and ecosystems.

GRÜNE LIGA would like to thank our partner organizations for this successful event series and wishes Erin O'Donnell many more inspiring conversations during her journey through Europe.