Brazilian Congress Overturns Most of Lula's Environmental Licensing Vetoes, Sparking National Controversy
Brazil's National Congress has overturned most of President Lula's vetoes on the Environmental Licensing Law, sparking widespread criticism from environmentalists and government officials amid concerns over weakening protections.
- • Congress overturned 56 out of 63 vetoes from President Lula on environmental licensing.
- • Self-declared licensing for medium polluting projects was reinstated.
- • Environmental groups condemned the decision as damaging to the Amazon and indigenous rights.
- • The decision contradicts Brazil's commitments at the recent UN Climate Conference (COP30).
Key details
On November 27, 2025, the Brazilian National Congress voted overwhelmingly to overturn 56 out of 63 vetoes made by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva regarding the Environmental Licensing Law (PL 2159/21). The only vetoes upheld were related to the Special Environmental Licensing (Licenciamento Ambiental Especial or LAE). This legislative move reinstated self-declared licensing for medium polluting projects and eased environmental regulations, especially concerning indigenous land consultations and deforestation in the Mata Atlântica region.
Key among the reinstated provisions is the Licença por Adesão e Compromisso (LAC), allowing small and medium enterprises to use a simplified, self-declaration process for licensing, a measure feared to weaken environmental protections. Consultations on indigenous lands were narrowed to only those with homologated demarcations, permitting licensing approvals to proceed despite opposition from authorities.
The decisions ignited strong criticism from environmental groups and government officials. Greenpeace Brasil condemned the overturning as "scandalous," with public policy expert Gabriela Nepomuceno calling it a "license to devastate" that prioritizes destructive interests over protecting the Amazon, indigenous rights, and biodiversity. These legislative changes come right after Brazil's participation in the UN Climate Conference (COP30), where President Lula's government emphasized combating deforestation and climate change.
Government figures also voiced concern, with Gleisi Hoffmann, Minister of Institutional Relations, declaring the Congressional action a loss for Brazil. Hoffmann stressed that the rollback undermines environmental safeguards, food security, public health, and indigenous and quilombola community rights — issues critical for Brazil's international standing and commitments made at COP30. She underscored that Lula's vetoes were grounded in rigorous technical and legal analysis aimed at preventing shortcuts, especially for high-risk projects such as tailings dams.
The debate exposed sharp divisions in Congress between those advocating economic growth and those warning of irreversible environmental harm. Critics labeled the law the "PL da Devastação," arguing it would accelerate deforestation, mining, and environmental degradation, while supporters claim the reforms modernize and simplify licensing to promote development.
As Brazil confronts escalating environmental challenges, this legislative shift places the country at a crossroads, facing potential legal battles and international scrutiny as it balances economic interests with the urgent need for environmental protection.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.