More-Than-Human Life (MOTH)

The More-Than-Human Life (MOTH) Programme is an interdisciplinary project based at NYU School of Law that rethinks how law, justice, and environmental responsibility can respond to today's ecological realities.  

MOTH's philosophy begins from the recognition that humans live within, and are shaped by, a wider living world, and that legal systems must reflect this interdependence. 

MOTH brings together legal scholars, scientists, Indigenous leaders, artists, writers, and philosophers to develop research and frameworks that strengthen the rights of nature and expand the field of more-than-human justice. Its work is organised around three interconnected strands. 

The first centres on gatherings and education, including global courses, annual convenings, and the MOTH Festival of Ideas, which bring diverse communities together to deepen understanding of more-than-human rights.  

The second involves advocacy and legal action, supporting efforts to develop, implement, and defend rights-of-nature laws and policies around the world.  

The third strand focuses on storytelling, publications, and creative practice, including collaborative projects that highlight ecological knowledge, multispecies relations, and emerging technologies.  

Sperm Whale in Port Fairy Pelagic, Victoria. Image: © Ed Dunens

Recent work includes engagement with research on nonhuman communication, such as the study of sperm whale communication led by Project CETI, explored within ethical, ecological, and legal contexts. 

MOTH's vision is to help build legal, cultural, and scientific practices that allow human and nonhuman beings to flourish together. Its goal is to advance a more just relationship between people and the rest of the living world by transforming legal systems, strengthening practical implementation, and cultivating the global field of more-than-human rights.