Brazilian Congress poses risk to environmental laws, study finds

A study by Observatório do Clima indicates that the incoming Brazilian Congress poses a significant risk to environmental protection legislation. The research found that nearly 70% of elected parliamentarians show little to no commitment to environmental issues. Specifically, 64 of the 81 Senate members and 345 of the 511 Chamber of Deputies members were classified as having “very low” or “low” commitment to environmental matters.

Political parties such as the Liberal Party (PL), along with Novo, Republicans, Progressistas, and União Brasil, were identified as having weak environmental credentials. Former Environment Minister Marina Silva expressed concern that a right-leaning majority and a growing agribusiness caucus could lead to environmental setbacks, including the dismantling of regulatory frameworks and the weakening of Ibama’s enforcement powers.

Potential legislative threats include measures to reduce protected areas, allow mining on indigenous lands, and ease environmental licensing requirements. Silva also noted that the new legislature might adopt a stance subservient to the interests of Donald Trump, which she argues could harm Brazil’s economic, social, and environmental interests.