COP30 Shadow: Brazil eases environmental rules amid climate summit preparation
By Samuel Ogunsona
Brazil’s legislative body has passed a bill on Thursday, July 17, 2025, that relaxes environmental permitting regulations, potentially undermining President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s efforts to enhance Brazil’s environmental reputation before hosting the COP30 United Nations climate summit later this year.
The legislation garnered broad support in Congress, where the influential agribusiness caucus wields significant power, despite opposition from environmentalists, members of Lula’s administration, and lawmakers from the European Union.
The European Union had written to Brazil’s lower house speaker last month urging him to prevent the bill from coming to a vote.
The lower house vote resulted in 267 in favor and 116 against the bill.
Business leaders in Brazil have criticized the country’s environmental permitting process as an obstacle to development.
While some environmentalists acknowledge that reforms were needed, they contend that the congressional approach will lead to more harm than benefit.
“Brazil will completely misalign itself with the best international standards,” said Natalie Unterstell, head of the Talanoa Institute, an environmental think tank.
The bill reduces permitting requirements for certain projects. For instance, it permits the construction of projects with small or mid-sized impacts—such as dams and basic sanitation infrastructure—without the need for environmental permits.
