Brazil

Abstract

This chapter examines Brazil’s environmental law. It first provides an overview of Brazil’s constitutional structure as it relates to federalism and the environment, taking into account how the Constitution grants federal (and state) ownership of and power to manage certain natural resources. It then considers the structure and substance of environmental law in Brazil, focusing on the major bodies of law such as the National Environmental Policy Act of 1981, the Forest Code (2012), and those dealing with protected areas, environmental crimes, water, climate change, and solid waste. The chapter goes on to discuss the implementation framework for Brazil’s environmental law, including administrative and judicial bodies, as well as the special and important role of environmental public prosecutors and the judiciary. Finally, it analyses the application of law in combating unsustainable deforestation and land use changes in the Amazon.