A new law in Brazil can cause “significant environmental losses and violations of human rights”, and represents the “rollback” of security in Brazil, including Amazon, a UN specialist told BBC News.
The plan to speed up approval for development projects was criticized by Astrid Puntas Ryano, a United Nations special synergy, as the country prepares to host the COP30 Climate Summit this year.
The MPs passed a plan to simplify the environmental license for infrastructure including roads, dams, energy and mines this month, although the President has not formally approved the bill.
Critics called it a “destruction bill” and say that it can lead to environmental abuse and deforestation.
Supporters say that a new nationwide licensing governance simplifies the long and complex process that companies prove to the authorities that do not cause planned development unacceptable environmental damage.
Under the changes, some developers will be able to self -sufficient their environmental impact through an online form for small -considered projects – a trick supporters say that the bureaucracy will reduce the bureaucracy but critics feel that a major concern is a matter of concern.
Ms. Ryano told the BBC that she feared that the lighter rules “apply to some mining projects” and “affect the Amazon region”.
He also said that some projects’ licenses were “very concerned” about the automatic renewal plans, where no major changes have been made, saying: “This would prevent environmental impact assessment from being made on these projects. Some projects would include mining projects or infrastructure projects where a complete evaluation is required.
“This will also cause forest harvesting. Amendment or continuity of projects can mean deforestation in Amazon without proper evaluation.”
In Amazon, a lot of forest harvesting and land -samashodhan have been operated by agriculture and mining, sometimes illegally -but Ms. Ryano said that the bill is going “backward” at efforts to stop it.
New analysis comes two months after it is published. In 2024, the huge swaths of Amazon were destroyedAdding man -made forest harvesting pressure with wildfire to drought.
Under the new law, environmental agencies will have 12 months – expandable for 24 – to decide to give licenses for strategic projects. If that time limit was remembered, a license can be provided automatically.
Supporters say that it definitely prevents businesses from delay, including projects for clean energy, including hydroelectric dams, or rail lines for the transport of grains.
Ms. Ryano said that she understands the need for more efficient systems but the assessment should be “broad” and “based on science”.
The law will also relax the need to consult indigenous or traditional quilombola communities – descendants of the Afro -Brazilian slaves – in some situations until they are directly affected.
United Nations experts expressed concern that rapid trekking assessment could remove some participation and affect human rights.
The supporters of the bill say it will encourage economic growth, which has been organized for renewable energy projects, to develop the economy, and reduce costs for businesses and state.
But critics fear that weakening environmental security may increase the risk of environmental disasters and violate indigenous rights.
In particular, the United Nations experts argue that it can refute constitutional rights guaranteeing the rights of a ecologically balanced environment – which means that legal challenges may proceed.
The Senate and the Chamber of Deputy have approved the bill and are now pending on the President’s approval.
President Lula da Silva has to decide by 8 August whether to approve or veto the new law.
Brazil’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva has strongly opposed the bill, which condemns the “death shock” for environmental security.
But it has been on obstacles with the President on other issues in the past, including proposals to detect oil drilling in the Amazon Basin.
Even if the President vetors it, there is a chance that the conservative-blows can try to reverse the Congress.
The Brazilian climate observator has called the bill “the biggest environmental jerk” since the Brazilian military dictatorship, which has increased the harvesting of Amazon forests and the displacement of many indigenous people in the construction of roads and agricultural expansion.
Ms. Ryano said Brazilian scientists estimate that the bill “will raise security for more than 18 million hectares in the country, Uruguay’s size,” the results are very large “.
