*The latest law aiming to expedite development approvals in Brazil has raised alarms about potential environmental degradation and violations of indigenous rights, as UN experts fear the rollback of decades of protective regulations could harm the Amazon region.*
**Brazil's Controversial Development Law Poses Threats to Amazon Rainforest, Warns UN Expert**
**Brazil's Controversial Development Law Poses Threats to Amazon Rainforest, Warns UN Expert**
*UN's Astrid Puentes Riaño highlights potential for increased deforestation and human rights abuses due to Brazil's new development bill as COP30 approaches.*
---
A new law recently passed in Brazil has drawn serious concern from environmental experts, including UN special rapporteur Astrid Puentes Riaño, who asserts that it risks causing "significant environmental harm and human rights violations." As Brazil gears up to host the COP30 climate summit later this year, critics of the law warn that it represents a stark rollback of the protections that have been in place for years, particularly concerning the Amazon rainforest.
The legislation, which simplifies the approval process for various development projects, was framed by lawmakers as a means to streamline complex environmental licensing. However, Ms. Riaño expressed her fears that this "devastation bill" could facilitate environmental abuses due to lighter regulations, especially affecting mining and infrastructure projects. While supporters argue that a new nationwide licensing regime would reduce bureaucratic hurdles for businesses, critics are concerned that it could significantly increase deforestation risks.
The new developments permit some developers to self-declare their projects' environmental impacts using an online form for initiatives considered smaller in scale. Proponents claim this will expedite the approval process and bring certainty to businesses, which have frequently faced delays that hinder important projects like hydroelectric dams. Drafted changes in the law could allow environmental agencies a maximum of 24 months—extendable— to make licensing decisions, after which a license may be automatically granted if the deadline is not met.
However, the UN expert cautioned that the bill’s provisions could undermine thorough environmental assessments that are vital for projects impacting the Amazon. Moreover, the proposed automatic renewal of project licenses raised alarms about the risk of unchecked deforestation going forward, especially given Brazil's recent history of land-clearing and forest fires impacted by drought conditions.
Moreover, the law threatens to dilute the requirement for consultations with indigenous and traditional quilombola communities, undermining their involvement in decisions that could adversely affect their livelihoods. Experts voice concerns about potential human rights violations and the preservation of indigenous rights, as fast-tracked assessments may disallow necessary participation from those affected by the projects.
Supporters of the bill maintain that it holds the promise of fostering economic growth and facilitating renewable energy development. Yet, critics—including Brazil’s Environment and Climate Change minister, Marina Silva, who has vocally opposed the legislation—argue that it embodies a severe threat to environmental protections and the rights of indigenous peoples.
The bill has been approved by both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, now awaiting a decision from President Lula da Silva, who has until August 8 to approve or veto it. Despite potential presidential opposition, observers remain wary, as the conservative-dominated congress might seek to override any veto. As it stands, experts estimate that the new law could exempt over 18 million hectares—an area comparable to Uruguay—from critical environmental protections across Brazil.
The implications of this legislation could echo significantly, stirring legal challenges and raising worries about environmental disasters driven by relaxed protections—an alarming prospect in a region that already bears the brunt of deforestation pressures from mining and agriculture.
A new law recently passed in Brazil has drawn serious concern from environmental experts, including UN special rapporteur Astrid Puentes Riaño, who asserts that it risks causing "significant environmental harm and human rights violations." As Brazil gears up to host the COP30 climate summit later this year, critics of the law warn that it represents a stark rollback of the protections that have been in place for years, particularly concerning the Amazon rainforest.
The legislation, which simplifies the approval process for various development projects, was framed by lawmakers as a means to streamline complex environmental licensing. However, Ms. Riaño expressed her fears that this "devastation bill" could facilitate environmental abuses due to lighter regulations, especially affecting mining and infrastructure projects. While supporters argue that a new nationwide licensing regime would reduce bureaucratic hurdles for businesses, critics are concerned that it could significantly increase deforestation risks.
The new developments permit some developers to self-declare their projects' environmental impacts using an online form for initiatives considered smaller in scale. Proponents claim this will expedite the approval process and bring certainty to businesses, which have frequently faced delays that hinder important projects like hydroelectric dams. Drafted changes in the law could allow environmental agencies a maximum of 24 months—extendable— to make licensing decisions, after which a license may be automatically granted if the deadline is not met.
However, the UN expert cautioned that the bill’s provisions could undermine thorough environmental assessments that are vital for projects impacting the Amazon. Moreover, the proposed automatic renewal of project licenses raised alarms about the risk of unchecked deforestation going forward, especially given Brazil's recent history of land-clearing and forest fires impacted by drought conditions.
Moreover, the law threatens to dilute the requirement for consultations with indigenous and traditional quilombola communities, undermining their involvement in decisions that could adversely affect their livelihoods. Experts voice concerns about potential human rights violations and the preservation of indigenous rights, as fast-tracked assessments may disallow necessary participation from those affected by the projects.
Supporters of the bill maintain that it holds the promise of fostering economic growth and facilitating renewable energy development. Yet, critics—including Brazil’s Environment and Climate Change minister, Marina Silva, who has vocally opposed the legislation—argue that it embodies a severe threat to environmental protections and the rights of indigenous peoples.
The bill has been approved by both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, now awaiting a decision from President Lula da Silva, who has until August 8 to approve or veto it. Despite potential presidential opposition, observers remain wary, as the conservative-dominated congress might seek to override any veto. As it stands, experts estimate that the new law could exempt over 18 million hectares—an area comparable to Uruguay—from critical environmental protections across Brazil.
The implications of this legislation could echo significantly, stirring legal challenges and raising worries about environmental disasters driven by relaxed protections—an alarming prospect in a region that already bears the brunt of deforestation pressures from mining and agriculture.
