Brazil's Controversial Development Law Faces Global Backlash Over Environmental Risks

As Brazil moves forward with legislation aimed at streamlining development project approvals, experts are sounding alarms over potential environmental and human rights violations, particularly concerning the Amazon rainforest.

A new development law in Brazil is stirring significant concern from global experts regarding its potential impact on the Amazon rainforest. UN Special Rapporteur Astrid Puentes Riaño recently expressed that this law represents a major "rollback" of achievements made over decades in environmental and human rights protections, particularly as Brazil gears up to host COP30.

The legislation, recently passed by lawmakers, aims to expedite approvals for various infrastructure projects by simplifying the environmental licensing process. Despite not receiving presidential approval yet, critics have denounced it as the "devastation bill," expressing fears that it could facilitate rampant environmental abuses and deforestation.

Proponents argue that the new system would alleviate bureaucratic hurdles for companies, allowing them to demonstrate that their projects will not cause unacceptable environmental damage more easily. However, one of the sweeping changes includes allowing some developers to self-declare their environmental impact via an online form, raising red flags for environmentalists.

Riaño highlighted that lighter regulations could potentially apply to mining projects, threatening the Amazon region with increased deforestation. Despite ongoing pressures from agricultural and mining practices—some of which are illegal—the bill is seen as a step backward from previous efforts aimed at restraining such activities.

Additionally, the legislation proposes automatic renewal of licenses for projects with no significant changes, which critics argue undermines the need for comprehensive environmental impact assessments. Riaño emphasized the importance of scientifically grounded evaluations, stating that even modifications to existing projects might result in deforestation without necessary oversight.

While supporters claim that the bill will drive economic growth, including for renewable energy projects, critics fear that diluting environmental protections could lead to disasters and infringe on the rights of indigenous communities. Specifically, UN experts have voiced concerns that the fast-tracking of assessments could limit community participation and violate constitutional rights to an ecologically balanced environment.

The Brazilian Senate and Chamber of Deputies have already approved the controversial bill, which now awaits President Lula da Silva's decision by August 8. Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, has voiced strong opposition, labeling the bill a "death blow" to environmental safeguards. Yet, President da Silva's stance remains uncertain, and should he veto the bill, the conservative-leaning Congress might attempt to override that decision.

The Brazil Climate Observatory warns that the bill could represent the most significant environmental setback since the military dictatorship era, which previously led to rampant deforestation and the displacement of indigenous populations. According to estimates, should the law take effect, it may strip protections across more than 18 million hectares of land, equating to an area the size of Uruguay, highlighting the potentially far-reaching consequences of this legislative move.