Transformative Environmental Constitutionalism in Africa: the seminar with Prof. Melanie Murcott in Florence
On June 19, 2025, an in-depth discussion on legal innovations to address ecological and social crises, promoted by the LUMEN project.
Published on 23 June 2025 | Reports
On June 19, 2025, the University of Florence welcomed Prof. Melanie Jean Murcott, Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town, for a seminar titled “Transformative Environmental Constitutionalism in Africa.”
The event, organized within the PRIN PNRR LUMEN project and the Jean Monnet Project EVE coordinated by the University of Florence, offered a thorough reflection on legal responses to the socio-ecological crises of the Anthropocene, with a particular focus on the African experience.
Through a critical and decolonial approach, Prof. Murcott demonstrated how African environmental constitutionalism, especially South African, offers concrete tools to tackle social injustices and ecological crises, integrating rights, cultural values, and nature protection.
Specifically, the analysis of certain African constitutions and related case law has highlighted how traditional cultural principles and the intrinsic recognition of the value of animals and ecosystems are increasingly shaping legal arguments. This has led courts to acknowledge that environmental harm can constitute violations of both constitutional rights and the cultural practices of affected communities.
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