Brazil's V Environmental Congress of Courts Convened in São Luís

The V Congresso Ambiental dos Tribunais de Contas opened on June 23 in São Luís, Maranhão, under the theme “Emergency Climate, Fiscal Responsibility and Socio‑environmental Justice.” The three‑day event brought together about 1,600 participants, including judges from the Tribunal de Contas, specialists, researchers, municipal leaders and other public officials. Key speakers included Maranhão Governor Carlos Brandão, TCE‑MA president Daniel Brandão, TCU president Vital do Rêgo, IRB president Inaldo Paixão and the president of the Federação dos Municípios do Estado do Maranhão, Roberto Costa. Topics discussed ranged from climate risks, ecosystem protection, energy transition and water security to the use of artificial intelligence in environmental audit, climate governance, circular economy and sustainable cities. The TCU’s ClimateScanner platform for monitoring climate‑related data was highlighted as a new tool for external control.

The congress aimed to strengthen external oversight of environmental policies, promote fiscal responsibility and foster socio‑environmental justice across Brazil’s public administration.