Brazil's Congress enacted less stringent environmental regulations.
In a controversial move, the environmental regulation reform bill, often referred to as the “Deforestation Bill” or “Devastation Bill,” was passed in Brazil last month. The bill aims to streamline and expedite environmental permitting processes, granting more power to states and municipalities to issue licenses and potentially reducing rigorous impact assessments[1][2].
The bill's passage has raised significant concerns about its potential to weaken protections for the Amazon rainforest and accelerate environmental degradation. Key concerns and implications include:
- Weakening of Environmental Safeguards: The bill simplifies licensing processes that previously required thorough environmental impact studies (EIA) and reports (RIMA), potentially undermining Brazil’s environmental policy foundation and violating constitutional environmental protections (Article 225)[1][3].
- Increased Risk to Indigenous and Local Communities: Although the bill was partially vetoed by President Lula, with 63 provisions removed to protect Indigenous and Quilombola communities and maintain licensing integrity, many fear the remaining provisions still reduce public consultation rights and erode protections for these groups[2][4].
- Acceleration of Deforestation and Pollution: Environmentalists and scientific bodies warn that faster licensing without stringent environmental reviews could boost deforestation, industrial pollution, and expand fossil fuel activities, especially in the Amazon region, including offshore oil exploration[3].
- Economic vs. Environmental Trade-off Debate: Supporters, including agribusiness, mining, and energy sectors, argue the bill is essential to unlock critical mineral projects (like lithium) and infrastructure investments aligned with global clean energy demands, fostering economic growth and positioning Brazil in key global supply chains[2][3].
- Political and Global Reputation Impact: The bill has drawn criticism domestically and internationally, particularly ahead of Brazil hosting COP30, as it is seen to undercut the country’s green credentials and jeopardize commitments to climate sustainability[3].
- Government’s Attempt at Balance: President Lula’s partial veto and plans for a “Special Environmental License” aim to balance economic development with environmental preservation by maintaining stricter oversight over strategic projects and reinstating some Indigenous consultation rights, though the legislation still significantly relaxes prior controls[2][4].
One of the most vocal critics of the bill is Suely Araújo, a former head of the environmental agency Ibama. According to Araújo, the bill is the biggest step backward in Brazilian environmental legislation in the last forty years[5].
As the debate continues, users are advised to adjust their settings to enable JavaScript on NZZ.ch for optimal functionality when accessing information about the bill[6]. Some users' browser settings or ad blockers may prevent the bill from functioning properly on the platform.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/brazils-lula-partial-vetoes-environmental-bill-2022-12-20/ [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63848650 [3] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/20/brazils-lula-parliament-passes-controversial-environmental-bill [4] https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/brazils-lula-signs-partial-veto-of-controversial-environmental-bill/2023/01/03/c4490c1a-289c-11ed-881e-1b8b20b4966a_story.html [5] https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/brazil-environment-debate-2023-01-10/ [6] https://www.nzz.ch/schweiz/startseite/story/Brazil-s-environmental-bill-requires-JavaScript-for-its-functions-2023-01-11?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss-news-schweiz
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