Shortcuts to degradation: environmental consequences of Brazil’s general environmental licensing law

Brazil’s General Environmental Licensing Law (No. 15,190/2025) redefines environmental governance under the banner of “simplification” but effectively dismantles preventive safeguards. The law introduces self-declared licensing, automatic license renewals, and broad exemptions for agriculture and livestock, while restricting public participation. Although partial presidential vetoes removed some unconstitutional provisions, these vetoes may still be overturned by Congress. Key omissions, such as the absence of vetoes on Articles 7 and 9, preserve mechanisms that weaken oversight and accountability. Within Brazil’s decentralized system, where most authorizations are issued by state agencies, the law consolidates existing permissive practices and deepens regulatory asymmetry. This new framework lowers the national baseline for environmental protection, threatens biodiversity, and jeopardizes Brazil’s ability to meet international climate and biodiversity commitments. Instead of modernizing procedures or strengthening institutional capacity, the law normalizes shortcuts that externalize environmental costs and undermine democratic participation.

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Publication Details

Journal
Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation
Published
2025-10-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecon.2025.10.004
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Intellectual Property and Patents
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
5.52
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Shortcuts to degradation: environmental consequences of Brazil’s general environmental licensing law

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2 citations
Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation
Intellectual Property and Patents
5.52
article

Shortcuts to degradation: environmental consequences of Brazil’s general environmental licensing law

Mariana Pires de Campos Telles, Daniel Negreiros, Fábio de Oliveira Roque, Leandro Juen, Clarissa Rosa, José Alexandre Felizola Diniz‐Filho, Letícia Ramos, Domingos de Jesus Rodrigues, Stephannie Fernandes, Geraldo Wilson Fernandes, Gabriel Arvelino de Paula, Fernando Luís Medina Mantelatto, Luiz Fernando Silva Magnago, Helder Lima de Queiroz, Yumi Oki, Reyjane P. Oliveira, Inara R. Leal, Rogério Rosa da Silva, Ricardo Augusto Gorne Viani, Noemia Kazue Ishikawa, Cláudia Quintino da Rocha, Jean Paul Metzger, Helena Godoy Bergallo, Ronaldo Adriano Christofoletti, Marilene Henning Vainstein, Valério D. Pillar, Carlos Eduardo Viveiros Grelle, Guarino Rinaldi Colli, Mariana G. Bender, Edmundo Gallo, B. Dickinson, Laura Ortega-Corredor
article en
2 citations

Abstract

Brazil’s General Environmental Licensing Law (No. 15,190/2025) redefines environmental governance under the banner of “simplification” but effectively dismantles preventive safeguards. The law introduces self-declared licensing, automatic license renewals, and broad exemptions for agriculture and livestock, while restricting public participation. Although partial presidential vetoes removed some unconstitutional provisions, these vetoes may still be overturned by Congress. Key omissions, such as the absence of vetoes on Articles 7 and 9, preserve mechanisms that weaken oversight and accountability. Within Brazil’s decentralized system, where most authorizations are issued by state agencies, the law consolidates existing permissive practices and deepens regulatory asymmetry. This new framework lowers the national baseline for environmental protection, threatens biodiversity, and jeopardizes Brazil’s ability to meet international climate and biodiversity commitments. Instead of modernizing procedures or strengthening institutional capacity, the law normalizes shortcuts that externalize environmental costs and undermine democratic participation.

Perspectives in Ecology and ConservationVol. 24(1)
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (BR), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (BR), Universidade de Brasília (BR), Universidade de São Paulo (BR), Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (BR), Florida International University (US), Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana (BR), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (BR), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (BR), Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (BR), Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia (BR), SUPERA Park of Innovation and Technology of Ribeirão Preto (BR), Ministério da Saúde (ST), Universidade Federal do Pará (BR), Universidade Federal de Goiás (BR), Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (BR), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (BR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 4%
Intellectual Property and Patents
5.52
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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