Latest news with #DevastationBill
Malay Mail
09-08-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Brazil's Lula strikes down parts of controversial environmental ‘Devastation Bill'
BRASÍLIA, Aug 9 — Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva yesterday vetoed some provisions of a Bill that would have made it easier for companies to secure environmental permits, bowing to pressure from activist groups. Dubbed the 'Devastation Bill' by its detractors, the text recently adopted by lawmakers would have loosened environmental licensing laws for projects considered 'strategic' by the state. For some permits, all that would have been required is a simple declaration of the company's environmental commitment. Lula instead reinstated the current strict licensing rules for strategic projects, such as a controversial oil mega-project at the mouth of the Amazon river, but set a one-year deadline for them to be approved or rejected. His veto also ensures that several Indigenous territories and the Atlantic Forest, which stretches along the east coast, will continue to enjoy special protection, Environment Minister Marina Silva told reporters. SOS Atlantic Forest, a non-governmental organization that had garnered over a million signatures calling for a veto of the law, hailed Lula's decision as 'a victory' for environmental protection. Greenpeace also praised the leftist president's action on the issue. But the executive coordinator of APIB, Brazil's largest Indigenous rights group, told AFP he was disappointed that the president had not struck down the entire Bill. Lula's veto must now be ratified by Congress, which is dominated by conservatives. Lula's environmental credentials are under close scrutiny in the run-up to the annual UN climate summit, which he will host in November in the Amazon city of Belem. While seeking to take a leadership role on climate change on the global stage, Lula has faced criticism at home for backing drilling in the Equatorial Margin, along the country's northern coast. He argues that the revenue from the oil field is necessary to finance Brazil's energy transition. Silva said Lula's objective was to ensure that 'the economy does not compete with ecology, but rather they are part of the same equation.' — AFP
09-08-2025
- Politics
Brazil's Lula vetoes parts of environment bill pushed by the opposition that could harm the Amazon
SAO PAULO -- Brazil's president vetoed Friday parts of a congressional bill that sought to overhaul the country's environmental licensing rules — legislation pushed by the right-wing opposition but which environmentalists say would impede efforts to protect sensitive areas such as the Amazon rainforest. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva threw out 63 out of the controversial bill's 400 measures, the government said, though the significance of the vetoes will be clearer once the bill is published in the official gazette and goes into effect. Lula's supporters and environmentalists had dubbed the legislation 'Devastation Bill,' while allies of former President Jair Bolsonaro, held in house arrest on charges linked to an alleged coup plot, had pushed for its approval in congress. Critics had argued that the bill undermines safeguards and harms Brazil's credibility ahead of hosting U.N. climate talks in November. Environment protection groups welcomed Lula's vetoes — though congress can still take steps to override them and introduce additional legislation. Several government ministers, speaking at a news conference at the presidential palace, lauded Lula's changes, saying he threw out parts of the legislation that would allow for fast-tracking of projects in the Amazon and curtailed the authority of federal agencies in issuing licenses for projects. Only enterprises of 'low polluting potential' will be allowed to get that kind of fast track, the ministers said. It was not immediately clear if Lula had vetoed a measure on upgrading existing roads without oversight, which could allow the paving of the entire highway running about 900 kilometers (560 miles) through the western Amazon. Lula doesn't have the majority in Brazil's congress, where Bolsonaro allies often side with moderates to pass conservative legislation. 'We understand we are keeping a dialogue with congress and assuring that there is integrity in environmental licensing,' Environment Minister Marina Silva said. 'This is fundamental for the protection of the environment in a context of climate crisis, loss of biodiversity and desertification processes,' she added. Lula had already spoken about possibly vetoing parts of the bill after it passed in congress last month. Brazil's lower house approved the legislation by 267-116 in July, dealing a big blow to Lula after several moderates had sided with Brazil's opposition. The 79-year-old leftist Lula — who was facing higher unpopularity, growing opposition in congress and increasing risks to his likely reelection bid — saw his polls improve days later, after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports. Trump, an ally of Bolsonaro, had linked the tariffs to Bolsonaro's trial, which he called a 'witch hunt' and demanded an end to the proceedings. Miriam Belchior, an official with Brazil's chief of staff, said Lula's vetoes will safeguard the 'rights of Indigenous peoples and communities of descendants of slaves, and incorporate mechanisms to make licensing quicker, but without harming' Brazil's natural resources. 'This is a victory for the society,' said Malu Ribeiro, head of the SOS Atlantica nonprofit organization. One of Lula's vetoes also addresses protection of another endangered area, Brazil's Atlantic Forest, which is the focus of the work of Ribeiro's group. Without the vetoes, she said there would have been much harm to efforts of "everyone who defends this national treasure.'
San Francisco Chronicle
08-08-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Brazil's Lula vetoes parts of environment bill pushed by the opposition that could harm the Amazon
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil's president vetoed Friday parts of a congressional bill that sought to overhaul the country's environmental licensing rules — legislation pushed by the right-wing opposition but which environmentalists say would impede efforts to protect sensitive areas such as the Amazon rainforest. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva threw out 63 out of the controversial bill's 400 measures, the government said, though the significance of the vetoes will be clearer once the bill is published in the official gazette and goes into effect. Lula's supporters and environmentalists had dubbed the legislation 'Devastation Bill,' while allies of former President Jair Bolsonaro, held in house arrest on charges linked to an alleged coup plot, had pushed for its approval in congress. Critics had argued that the bill undermines safeguards and harms Brazil's credibility ahead of hosting U.N. climate talks in November. Environment protection groups welcomed Lula's vetoes — though congress can still take steps to override them and introduce additional legislation. Several government ministers, speaking at a news conference at the presidential palace, lauded Lula's changes, saying he threw out parts of the legislation that would allow for fast-tracking of projects in the Amazon and curtailed the authority of federal agencies in issuing licenses for projects. Only enterprises of 'low polluting potential' will be allowed to get that kind of fast track, the ministers said. It was not immediately clear if Lula had vetoed a measure on upgrading existing roads without oversight, which could allow the paving of the entire highway running about 900 kilometers (560 miles) through the western Amazon. Lula doesn't have the majority in Brazil's congress, where Bolsonaro allies often side with moderates to pass conservative legislation. 'We understand we are keeping a dialogue with congress and assuring that there is integrity in environmental licensing,' Environment Minister Marina Silva said. 'This is fundamental for the protection of the environment in a context of climate crisis, loss of biodiversity and desertification processes,' she added. Lula had already spoken about possibly vetoing parts of the bill after it passed in congress last month. Brazil's lower house approved the legislation by 267-116 in July, dealing a big blow to Lula after several moderates had sided with Brazil's opposition. The 79-year-old leftist Lula — who was facing higher unpopularity, growing opposition in congress and increasing risks to his likely reelection bid — saw his polls improve days later, after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports. Trump, an ally of Bolsonaro, had linked the tariffs to Bolsonaro's trial, which he called a 'witch hunt' and demanded an end to the proceedings. Miriam Belchior, an official with Brazil's chief of staff, said Lula's vetoes will safeguard the 'rights of Indigenous peoples and communities of descendants of slaves, and incorporate mechanisms to make licensing quicker, but without harming' Brazil's natural resources. 'This is a victory for the society,' said Malu Ribeiro, head of the SOS Atlantica nonprofit organization. One of Lula's vetoes also addresses protection of another endangered area, Brazil's Atlantic Forest, which is the focus of the work of Ribeiro's group. Without the vetoes, she said there would have been much harm to efforts of "everyone who defends this national treasure.'
Winnipeg Free Press
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Brazil's Lula vetoes parts of environment bill pushed by the opposition that could harm the Amazon
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil's president vetoed Friday parts of a congressional bill that sought to overhaul the country's environmental licensing rules — legislation pushed by the right-wing opposition but which environmentalists say would impede efforts to protect sensitive areas such as the Amazon rainforest. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva threw out 63 out of the controversial bill's 400 measures, the government said, though the significance of the vetoes will be clearer once the bill is published in the official gazette and goes into effect. Lula's supporters and environmentalists had dubbed the legislation 'Devastation Bill,' while allies of former President Jair Bolsonaro, held in house arrest on charges linked to an alleged coup plot, had pushed for its approval in congress. Critics had argued that the bill undermines safeguards and harms Brazil's credibility ahead of hosting U.N. climate talks in November. Environment protection groups welcomed Lula's vetoes — though congress can still take steps to override them and introduce additional legislation. Several government ministers, speaking at a news conference at the presidential palace, lauded Lula's changes, saying he threw out parts of the legislation that would allow for fast-tracking of projects in the Amazon and curtailed the authority of federal agencies in issuing licenses for projects. Only enterprises of 'low polluting potential' will be allowed to get that kind of fast track, the ministers said. It was not immediately clear if Lula had vetoed a measure on upgrading existing roads without oversight, which could allow the paving of the entire highway running about 900 kilometers (560 miles) through the western Amazon. Lula doesn't have the majority in Brazil's congress, where Bolsonaro allies often side with moderates to pass conservative legislation. 'We understand we are keeping a dialogue with congress and assuring that there is integrity in environmental licensing,' Environment Minister Marina Silva said. 'This is fundamental for the protection of the environment in a context of climate crisis, loss of biodiversity and desertification processes,' she added. Lula had already spoken about possibly vetoing parts of the bill after it passed in congress last month. Brazil's lower house approved the legislation by 267-116 in July, dealing a big blow to Lula after several moderates had sided with Brazil's opposition. The 79-year-old leftist Lula — who was facing higher unpopularity, growing opposition in congress and increasing risks to his likely reelection bid — saw his polls improve days later, after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports. Trump, an ally of Bolsonaro, had linked the tariffs to Bolsonaro's trial, which he called a 'witch hunt' and demanded an end to the proceedings. Wednesdays What's next in arts, life and pop culture. Miriam Belchior, an official with Brazil's chief of staff, said Lula's vetoes will safeguard the 'rights of Indigenous peoples and communities of descendants of slaves, and incorporate mechanisms to make licensing quicker, but without harming' Brazil's natural resources. 'This is a victory for the society,' said Malu Ribeiro, head of the SOS Atlantica nonprofit organization. One of Lula's vetoes also addresses protection of another endangered area, Brazil's Atlantic Forest, which is the focus of the work of Ribeiro's group. Without the vetoes, she said there would have been much harm to efforts of 'everyone who defends this national treasure.' ___ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at
Straits Times
08-08-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Lula signs bill to ease Brazil environmental licenses but vetoes key provisions
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva looks on during a press conference at the U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 25, 2024. REUTERS/David Dee Delgado/File Photo BRASILIA - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed into law a bill easing environmental licensing rules, but vetoed dozens of provisions, the executive secretary of the president's office said on Friday. Dubbed the "Devastation Bill" by environmentalists, the motion approved by Congress and backed by Brazil's powerful agribusiness community significantly weakens environmental controls in licensing processes, giving states and municipalities more power to issue licenses for new business developments. Agribusiness has backed the bill because it would make expanding operations in environmentally sensitive areas easier. Lula approved the bill but struck down or altered 63 of its nearly 400 articles, said his office's executive secretary, Miriam Belchior. Belchior told journalists in Brasilia that the vetoes sought to preserve the integrity of the licensing process, ensure legal certainty, and protect the rights of Indigenous and Quilombola communities. "We maintained what we consider to be significant advances in streamlining the environmental licensing process," she said. Of the provisions struck down, 26 were vetoed outright, while another 37 will either be replaced with alternative text or modified in a new bill. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore PM Wong calls on S'poreans to band together for nation to remain exceptional in National Day message Singapore Nation building is every Singaporean's responsibility, not the work of one party alone: Pritam Singapore Four foreign leaders to attend NDP 2025 at the Padang Singapore 'This is home', for retired shop owner putting up 11th flag display in Toa Payoh to mark SG60 Singapore Singapore leaders send congratulatory letters to South Korean counterparts to mark 50 years of ties Singapore Relaxed rules 'not a silver bullet', but a step in right direction, say nightlife businesses Business Singapore's digital banks trim deposit rates, mirroring moves by incumbent players Singapore Chief Justice allows founder of site that ran fake KKH story to be called to the Bar Lula's administration will send the new bill to Congress under a constitutional urgency procedure, Belchior said. This new proposal will introduce a "Special Environmental License" designed to fast-track strategic projects while filling the legal gaps created by the vetoes, she added. REUTERS
