UN Calls on Brazil to Protect the Environment: Why Rejecting the Bill to Slash Safeguards Matters

United Nations rights experts are raising alarms over a new Brazilian law related to environmental licensing. They believe it could weaken protections for forests and Indigenous communities if President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva doesn’t step in to veto it.

On June 17, Brazil’s Congress passed the General Environmental Licensing Law. It gives Lula until August 1 to agree or disagree with changes that simplify reviews for projects like roads, farming, and mining. Eleven members of the U.N. Human Rights Council and the Brazilian Academy of Sciences say this law could violate the right to a clean environment and will mostly impact Indigenous and Quilombola communities.

Interestingly, the law doesn’t mention climate change at all, despite Brazil preparing to host COP30 in November. Even Lula’s human rights ministry has expressed concerns about automatic license renewals without proper environmental reviews.

A key takeaway from the Brazilian Academy of Sciences highlights the concern: “This means that destruction of forests and ecosystems can happen without careful assessment of the damage to the environment and to humanity.”

Why does this matter? Brazil is home to about 60% of the Amazon rainforest, a crucial area that regulates rainfall and stores significant amounts of carbon. Easing licensing rules could lead to more highways and agricultural areas carving into untouched lands. This not only releases climate-warming emissions but also harms rivers that many people rely on.

Reducing environmental reviews also diminishes the voices of Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities. These groups play a vital role in protecting some of the last undisturbed ecosystems. Without their input, social tensions could rise and lead to displacement.

Data shows that deforestation in Brazil increased significantly in recent years, with a 22% rise in 2020 compared to 2019. As cities face extreme heat and drought, clearing more forests could make these issues worse, shifting from a climate buffer to a carbon source.

For further insights, you can read more on the potential impacts of Brazil’s environmental policies here.

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climate change, energy, environmental health, environmental justice, public health