A Barrister for the Earth: Ten Cases of Hope for Our Future

by Monica Feria-Tinta

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WESTMINSTER BOOK AWARDS

'Inspiring . . . Law could be our planet's greatest hope.'
ISABELLA TREE

'Fascinating and compelling . . . A vital book for our times.'
JULIAN HOFFMAN

'A seminal and important book which will become a key part of the gathering movement to protect the rights of nature.'
SARAH LANGFORD

*

Can a planet have legal rights? Could it be defended in a court of law? How do we redefine a 'right to life'?

A revolution is taking place. Around the world, ordinary people are turning to courts, seeking justice for environmental wrongs. At the forefront of this movement, pioneering barrister Monica Feria-Tinta advocates not only for people, but also for those who have no for rivers, forests and endangered species.

In A Barrister for the Earth, Feria-Tinta takes us behind the scenes of ten real cases as she argues against the destruction of cloud forests and for sovereign states to account for inaction. Each of these are landmarks signalling that we are at an important juncture, in which the law can be a powerful tool for the lasting change.

Genres: Nonfiction, Climate Change

358 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 22, 2025

Reviews

[Sony · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolute power woman and barrister for the earth Monica is

[Ermine]

go girlboss go

[Tony Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

'In the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the right to life is as a legal notion became anthropocentric, human centred.' - writes Monica Feria-Tinta. "Did we get it wrong?", she questions. Shouldn't the law protect life in all its forms? This book written by a visionary advocate behind some of the most important climate/environmental cases in this century, is a jewel. I used to like to read only fiction. The story-telling in this book surpassed any expectation I had. It drew me into worlds I did not know existed. The realities she describes are rich, and kept me on my toes. I loved the chapter dealing with the sea. This is not someone travelling to tell us a story. This is someone ensuring justice to irreplaceable places to maintain their existence, and ensuring that entire species are not wiped out. This is an epic in a way. I was interested in the person behind this cases and found fascinating the window into her mind when doing this magnificent cases. This is all very inspiring. From von Humbolt to Tao writers. From the Upanishads to western thinking. She teaches how the interconnectedness of the planet was long recognised and it should be reflected in the law.

[Anggi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. It was read by the author herself. It is a very informative and hopeful call to action for anyone who calls earth their home which is all of us!

I learned so much about the power of collective action and also how the law could be put into good use not only for seeking proper reparation for the plight of indigenous people, but also to protect and preserve the last natural reserves in the world.

I am Indonesian and I only learned the depth of the issues from the aftermath of Montara oil spill to the ocean and the indigenous communities living in West Timor and East Nusa Tenggara from this book. It also has opened my eyes to similar plights of indigenous communities all over the world.

Moreover, I have a new appreciation for the preservation of cloud forests in my own country. I am really glad to know that our earth has a barrister such as Monica to fight for its rights! I will try my best to join the fight and do my part from my end too.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful informative book that taught me a lot about the influence law can have, as well as how recently legislation is changing and adapting to a world under pressure.
Sometimes it does read a little like a legal document, I would love to have had more stories about the powerhouse that is Monica herself and how she got to where she is. How she personally manages working across so many cases where communities are on the line. Whether she feels like the UN system she so often utilises in her work is steadfast enough to keep the momentum or if these creaky old institutions based on an international order that does not seem to exist anymore are at risk of falling apart. These are zoom out, sometimes personal aspects that we get glimpses of in this book, but generally she chooses to focus on the cases themselves, their role, Indigenous Peoples role and how we must regain this perspective to support the Earth today.

[Madeleine · Rating 4 out of 5]

#dnf due to time constraints but found the stories of environmental destruction important and interesting. When writing about the law and describing each case, the writing is fluid and compelling, but I found the sections where the author was writing about herself, her experiences or other people a bit clunky - I guess as a lawyer she has less experience with that kind of writing. I’m also not convinced by her central premise- that international law is the way to combat climate change. It certainly is one strategy, but I found myself wondering how much corporations and governments actually pay attention to UN Advisory Opinions etc (in my experience of campaigning, they are largely ignored). I appreciated the optimism but I’m not sure barristers, judges and courts are the places to direct energy in the climate fight.

[Carol Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic. Inspiring. 'A Barrister for the Earth' deeply moved me. I finished reading this book over a weekend. I was unable to put it down. The author is paving an unprecedented path to protect irreplaceable worlds and the book narrates real stories of hope. Like us - animals, trees, rivers, oceans also have life. It's up to us to recognise these rights just as we have done for our own. I found the book to be very accessible and illuminating. There's an element of humanity - the indigenous peoples' and the author's own - weaved throughout the book which fostered an instant connection with the subject chapter by chapter. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the future of humanity, and anyone reflecting on our place on earth.

[Aisling Eyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This is a truly inspiring reminder that change is possible, even when it feels so out of reach. The ten cases give an insight into how international law is being creatively interpreted and applied to protect the environment. Whether or not the rulings can be enforced is a different (and perhaps more difficult) question, but I believe we are moving in the right direction and Monica’s book is a testament to the importance of tenacity and hope!

[Liz Creavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book feels quite hard to get through at times - some repetition, very heavy on law quoting and I felt that it could have been condensed. However. SO worth discussing, I think she’s incredible(!!) and the final case and epilogue were my ‘favourite’ parts so do stick with it.

[Chris Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book inspirational. The battles, the wins, the honest narrative. The prose of the writer at its best in Chapter 9, on Rights of Nature. if interested in environmental action and the natural world, this is authentic and highly recommended.

[Nancy M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant, the best book I read this year, maybe even in years. I am now recommending it to everyone who I know cares about justice and the survival of life on Earth

[Charlie Appleton-Pilbeam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic, readable, and hopeful. I have never been so proud of a profession of which I am not (yet) a part. Legal analysis for the lay reader that is digestible and useful. A delight!