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Euronews
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Brazil passes controversial bill that weakens environmental law
A bill to overhaul environmental regulations in Brazil was passed by the country's lower house Thursday, drawing criticism from the environmental minister who floated the possibility of a presidential veto. With the bill already passed by the Senate in May, it now goes to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who casts himself as an environmental defender and later this year will preside over the first UN climate talks, known as COP30, to take place in the Amazon. Lula can sanction the project, veto it in its entirety or veto only certain aspects. But he has not publicly commented on what action he might take. If signed by Lula, the sweeping legislation will weaken federal agencies' environmental licensing powers. Among other measures, it speeds up review for projects deemed priorities by the federal government, reducing the approval process from three bureaucratic steps to one. It also eliminates reviews for upgrades to existing highways, which could clear the way to pave the whole of a highway that runs about 900 kilometres through the western part of the Amazon. Environmentalists argue that the project will lead to the mass clearing of a pristine area of rainforest. The bill's approval is a victory for supporters who argued Brazil's current regulations need to be simplified, but a blow for environmental experts and green activists, who refer to it as the 'devastation bill.' The bill passed with a strong majority, 267 votes to 116. 'The worst piece of legislation' After the bill passed, Environment Minister Marina Silva told local press that the bill undermined environmental legislation and that the federal government would still seek alternatives, including the possibility of a presidential veto. A campaign in the lead up to the vote said the bill could lead to a regression in pollution control risking health issues, increase water contamination and scarcity, increase deforestation and undermine protected areas. At the heart of concerns is the proposal to install a self-declaration process for environmental licensing, which Suely Araújo, the public policy coordinator at the Climate Observatory network of NGOs, said would cover around 90 per cent of total projects in Brazil. Companies would 'file a description online, press a button, and the license will be issued,' she said, calling the proposal 'by far the worst piece of legislation' ever from an environmental standpoint. Last week, more than 300 nonprofits, including Greenpeace and WWF Brazil, signed a petition expressing their 'deep concern' regarding the bill, which they say 'represents a huge institutional setback for Brazil and the collapse of over 40 years of development of national environmental legislation.'
Euronews
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Brazil's passes controversial bill that weakens environmental law
A bill to overhaul environmental regulations in Brazil was passed by the country's lower house Thursday, drawing criticism from the environmental minister who floated the possibility of a presidential veto. With the bill already passed by the Senate in May, it now goes to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who casts himself as an environmental defender and later this year will preside over the first UN climate talks, known as COP30, to take place in the Amazon. Lula can sanction the project, veto it in its entirety or veto only certain aspects. But he has not publicly commented on what action he might take. If signed by Lula, the sweeping legislation will weaken federal agencies' environmental licensing powers. Among other measures, it speeds up review for projects deemed priorities by the federal government, reducing the approval process from three bureaucratic steps to one. It also eliminates reviews for upgrades to existing highways, which could clear the way to pave the whole of a highway that runs about 900 kilometres through the western part of the Amazon. Environmentalists argue that the project will lead to the mass clearing of a pristine area of rainforest. The bill's approval is a victory for supporters who argued Brazil's current regulations need to be simplified, but a blow for environmental experts and green activists, who refer to it as the 'devastation bill.' The bill passed with a strong majority, 267 votes to 116. 'The worst piece of legislation' After the bill passed, Environment Minister Marina Silva told local press that the bill undermined environmental legislation and that the federal government would still seek alternatives, including the possibility of a presidential veto. A campaign in the lead up to the vote said the bill could lead to a regression in pollution control risking health issues, increase water contamination and scarcity, increase deforestation and undermine protected areas. At the heart of concerns is the proposal to install a self-declaration process for environmental licensing, which Suely Araújo, the public policy coordinator at the Climate Observatory network of NGOs, said would cover around 90 per cent of total projects in Brazil. Companies would 'file a description online, press a button, and the license will be issued,' she said, calling the proposal 'by far the worst piece of legislation' ever from an environmental standpoint. Last week, more than 300 nonprofits, including Greenpeace and WWF Brazil, signed a petition expressing their 'deep concern' regarding the bill, which they say 'represents a huge institutional setback for Brazil and the collapse of over 40 years of development of national environmental legislation.'
17-07-2025
- Politics
Brazil's congress passes bill to overhaul environmental regulations
RIO DE JANEIRO -- A bill to overhaul environmental regulations in Brazil was passed by the country's lower house Thursday, drawing criticism by the environmental minister who floated the possibility of a presidential veto. With the bill already passed by the Senate in May, it now goes to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who casts himself as an environmental defender and later this year will preside over the first U.N. climate talks, known as COP30, to take place in the Amazon. Lula can sanction the project, veto it in its entirety or veto only certain aspects. Lula has not publicly comment on what action he might take. If signed by Lula, the sweeping legislation will weaken federal agencies' environmental licensing powers. Among other measures, it speeds up review for projects deemed priorities by the federal government, reducing the approval process from three bureaucratic steps to one. It also eliminates reviews for upgrades to existing highways, which could clear the way for to pave the whole of a highway that runs about 900 kilometers (560 miles) through the western part of the Amazon. Environmentalists argue that the project will lead to mass clearing of a pristine area of rainforest. The bill's approval is a victory for supporters who argued Brazil's current regulations needs to be simplified, but a blow for environmental experts and green activists, who refer to it as the 'devastation bill.' The bill passed with a strong majority, 267 votes to 116. After the bill passed, Environment Minister Marina Silva told local press that the bill undermined environmental legislation and that the federal government would still seek alternatives, including the possibility of a presidential veto. A campaign in the lead up to the vote said the bill could lead to a regression in pollution control - risking health issues - increase water contamination and scarcity, increase deforestation and undermine protected areas. At the heart of concerns is the proposal to install a self-declaration process for environmental licensing, which Suely Araújo, the public policy coordinator at the Climate Observatory network of NGOs, said would cover around 90% of total projects in Brazil. Companies would 'file a description online, press a button, and the license will be issued,' she said, calling the proposal 'by far the worst piece of legislation' ever from an environmental standpoint. Last week, more than 300 nonprofits, including Greenpeace and WWF Brazil, signed a petition expressing their 'deep concern' regarding the bill which they say, 'represents a huge institutional setback for Brazil and the collapse of over 40 years of development of national environmental legislation.' ___ Gabriela Sá Pessoa contributed from Sao Paulo.
Irish Examiner
17-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Brazil passes ‘devastation bill' that drastically weakens environmental law
Brazilian lawmakers have passed a bill that drastically weakens the country's environmental safeguards and is seen by many activists as the most significant setback for the country's environmental legislation in the past 40 years. The new law – widely referred to as the 'devastation bill' and already approved by the senate in May — passed in congress in the early hours of Thursday by 267 votes to 116, despite opposition from more than 350 organisations and social movements. It now goes to the president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who has 15 working days to either approve or veto it. Even if he vetoes the legislation, there is a strong chance that the predominantly conservative congress will overturn that, triggering a likely battle in the supreme court, as legal experts argue that the new law is unconstitutional. 'Either way, its approval is a tragedy,' said Suely Araújo, public policy coordinator at the Climate Observatory civil society group, arguing that the legislation would, among other serious consequences, drive large-scale deforestation and heighten the risk of human-caused climate disasters. 'There's no precedent for how damaging this law is,' she said, describing it, as have several other environmental organisations, as 'the greatest setback to Brazil's environmental legislation' since the 1980s, when licensing first became a legal requirement in the country. One of the main points of criticism of the law is that it allows projects classified as having 'medium' polluting potential to obtain an environmental licence through a self-declared online form — without prior impact studies or regulatory review. Previously, this fast-track process was limited to low-risk activities. According to Araújo, this will affect about 90% of licensing procedures in Brazil, including those for mining companies and the vast majority of agricultural activities. 'We're seeing the implosion of Brazil's environmental licensing system, that is going to become full self-licensing, where a company just clicks a button and the permit gets printed,' said Araújo, who served as president of Brazil's environmental protection agency, Ibama, from 2016 to 2018. The law also states that agencies responsible for protecting the rights of Indigenous and quilombola communities will only have a say in licensing processes for projects located on officially recognised territories — excluding more than 30% of Indigenous lands and over 80% of quilombola areas that have been awaiting official titling for years. 'Many of these lands are already under dispute or being targeted by exploitative companies,' said Dinamam Tuxá, executive coordinator of the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Apib), who described the law's approval as 'the legalisation of a process of extermination of Indigenous peoples'. Tuxá says Lula should veto the bill, but recognises that in a predominantly opposition-led congress, the president's decision is likely to be overturned. 'That's why civil society must remain organised to pressure lawmakers not to overturn the veto,' he said. If the law does come into force, it is likely to trigger a wave of legal challenges, as activists and legal experts argue that it violates the constitution and previous rulings by the supreme court. Some activists have criticised Lula's administration for not doing enough to prevent the bill's approval, and even for giving it a free pass, as reported by the news outlet Sumaúma. Resistance to the bill was primarily confined to the environment minister, Marina Silva, who described it as 'the burial of environmental licensing'. According to the Climate Observatory's Araújo, the law also creates a major embarrassment for both Brazil and Lula just months before the country is to host Cop30 in the Amazon in November. 'This law is a serious setback and will shape how Brazil is viewed by those who see it as a potential environmental leader,' she said. Read More French mural shows Statue of Liberty covering her eyes in swipe at Trump
The Guardian
17-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Brazil passes ‘devastation bill' that drastically weakens environmental law
Brazilian lawmakers have passed a bill that drastically weakens the country's environmental safeguards and is seen by many activists as the most significant setback for the country's environmental legislation in the past 40 years. The new law – widely referred to as the 'devastation bill' and already approved by the senate in May – passed in congress in the early hours of Thursday by 267 votes to 116, despite opposition from more than 350 organisations and social movements. It now goes to the president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who has 15 working days to either sanction or veto it. Even if he vetoes the legislation, there is a strong chance that the predominantly conservative congress would overturn that, triggering a likely battle in the supreme court, as legal experts argue that the new law is unconstitutional. 'Either way, its approval is a tragedy,' said Suely Araújo, public policy coordinator at the Climate Observatory civil society group, arguing that the legislation would, among other serious consequences, drive large-scale deforestation and heighten the risk of human-caused climate disasters. 'There's no precedent for how damaging this law is,' she said, describing it, as have several other environmental organisations, as 'the greatest setback to Brazil's environmental legislation' since the 1980s, when licensing first became a legal requirement in the country. One of the main points of criticism of the law is that it allows projects classified as having 'medium' polluting potential to obtain an environmental licence through a self-declared online form – without prior impact studies or regulatory review. Previously, this fast-track process was limited to low-risk activities. According to Araújo, this will affect about 90% of licensing procedures in Brazil, including those for mining companies and the vast majority of agricultural activities. 'We're seeing the implosion of Brazil's environmental licensing system, that is going to become full self-licensing, where a company just clicks a button and the permit gets printed,' said Araújo, who served as president of Brazil's environmental protection agency, Ibama, from 2016 to 2018. The law also states that agencies responsible for protecting the rights of Indigenous and quilombola communities will only have a say in licensing processes for projects located on officially recognised territories – excluding more than 30% of Indigenous lands and over 80% of quilombola areas that have been awaiting official titling for years. 'Many of these lands are already under dispute or being targeted by exploitative companies,' said Dinamam Tuxá, executive coordinator of the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB), who described the law's approval as 'the legalisation of a process of extermination of Indigenous peoples'. Tuxá says that Lula should veto the bill, but recognises that in a predominantly opposition-led Congress, the president's decision is likely to be overturned. 'That's why civil society must remain organised to pressure lawmakers not to overturn the veto,' he said. If the law does come into force, it will likely trigger a wave of legal challenges, as activists and legal experts argue that it violates the constitution and previous rulings by the supreme court. Some activists have criticised Lula's administration for not doing enough to prevent the bill's approval, and even for giving it a free pass, as reported by the news outlet Sumaúma. Resistance to the bill was primarily confined to the environment minister, Marina Silva, who described it as 'the burial of environmental licensing'. According to the Climate Observatory's Araújo, the law also creates a major embarrassment for both Brazil and Lula just months before the country is set to host Cop30 in the Amazon in November. 'This law is a serious setback and will shape how Brazil is viewed by those who see it as a potential environmental leader,' she said.
