Viewpoint: The far-reaching dangers of rolling back environmental licensing and impact assessment legislation in Brazil

In the context of compounding health, environmental, and climatic crises, Brazil may witness two of its most important environmental policy instruments, environmental licensing and impact assessment, be severely weakened. On May 13, 2021, the Chamber of Deputies passed a new General Law of Environmental Licensing, ignoring the concerns of civil society, scientists, and other relevant parties. If approved by the Senate and ratified by President Bolsonaro, this law will further undermine Brazil's increasingly fragile environmental protection and public participation in decision-making. Here, we review the bill's main provisions, highlighting potential far-reaching implications for environmental protection and governance, public participation in decision-making, and human rights in Brazil and beyond. Scientists can play an important role in debunking misinformation and advising Senators and the public opinion on the bill's dangerous effects. •A General Law of Environmental Licensing is a roll-back in Brazil's environmental legislation.•Bill 2159/2021 was approved by Chamber of Deputies without civil society dialogue.•The Bill's provisions affect each stage of licensing and impact assessment process.•The proposed bill weakens the territorial rights of Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities.•National and international adverse consequences of this bill are far-reaching.