Fourteenth International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses

Abstract

In recent years successful Brazilian environmental policies have been criticized when compared to policies implemented particularly from 2004 to 2010. One particular feature is focused on environmental governance, taking into account the expanding Protected Areas and Indigenous Lands, the development monitoring systems to detect vegetation loss, and others, like an important task force including Federal Policy and other ministries. In this sense, this work aims to tell the rise and fall of Brazil´s environmental policies focused on an institutional approach and perspective, aiming to present the changing conditions, from a strong to weak environmental governance. Institutional literature offers an analytical and theoretical approach. The research is based on extensive statistical data from Brazil´s public data (deforestation, protected areas, illegal harvesting, budget, etc.) and also local and international reports. In terms of preliminary conclusions the study evidences the importance of public “signals” and the weaknesses of environmental institutions and governance process. Finally some proposals are presented to overcome the ongoing inertia in Brazilian environmental governance.