Ahead of Hosting COP30, Brazil Is Set to Weaken Environmental Licensing

Ahead of hosting COP30, Brazil is set to weaken environmental licensing

Brazil’s Congress is likely to approve what experts describe as the country’s most significant environmental setback since 1988 when the Constitution was enacted. Bill 2159/2021, which changes several rules of the environmental licensing framework, was approved by the Senate on May 21, six months before Brazil hosts the COP30 climate summit in the Amazonian city of Belém. The bill was heavily criticized by environmental organizations and the Min…

Bill 2159/2021, passed on May 21 after the green light of the Brazilian Federal Senate, makes the requirements for environmental licensing more flexible, opening the way to possible violations of the rights of traditional territories. The initiative has sparked a wave of criticism as it is considered a threat to environmental protection.

Brazil senate clears sweeping bill slashing environmental protections for industry projects

Brazil’s senate has passed a controversial bill weakening the country’s environmental regulations, opening the door for faster industrial development with limited oversight.Constance Malleret reports for The Guardian.In short:The Senate approved a bill that would dismantle Brazil’s environmental licensing system, allowing industries like mining, farming, and energy to bypass in-depth impact assessments and permitting processes.Environmental grou…

It is clear that the current legislation and its processes need reform to become more flexible and efficient Minister Marina Silva says that the bill approved in the Senate completely dismounts the existing environmental licensing system in Brazil. For her, the current regime is robust and has produced good results. Therefore, it calls for the government's action to be taken to combat that project. The problem is on the basis of the government. …

This Sunday (1st) a demonstration organized by Rede Converge will take place starting at 9 am, at the ruins of São Francisco, in Curitiba. The protest will be against the “Devastation Bill”, a project approved by the Senate last week, which makes environmental licensing more flexible in the country. Environmentalists say that, in practice, it is a legalization of devastation. Among others, the proposal approved by the Senate exempts farmers and …

The UN (United Nations) sent a letter to the Brazilian government on Monday (May 26, 2025) criticizing Bill 2,159/2021, which relaxes the rules for issuing environmental licenses. The text was approved by the Senate on Wednesday (May 21) with 54 votes in favor and 13 against. The letter, obtained by UOL, warns of the violations that the proposal could cause. Registration form free alerts from Poder360 I agree to the terms of the LGPD.