Among the reasons for the resignation are actions that fragmented or dismantled environmental policy. (Photo: Leandro Curi/EM/DA Press)
Seven advisers from Minas Gerais environmental review and discussion forums have resigned from their mandates in the face of harsh criticism of the state government. They took all the places indicated for environmental associations.
The decision was read out at a meeting of the State Council for Environmental Policy (Copam) this Thursday (November 17). Then they left the plenum as a single block.
Associations participating in Copam, the State Council for Water Resources (Cerh) and its commissions condemned that these bodies have become a platform for legitimizing the self-critical decisions of the government of Minas Gerais against the backdrop of abandoning the goals of protecting the environment.
Dalce Rikas, Amda superintendent and member of Copam, regrets what happened. “We are convinced that advisory councils with the participation of civil society are the pillars of true democracy. But the executive branch in Minas has turned Copam/Cerh into theaters and we can no longer legitimize that,” he said.
Rennsia
Among the reasons for the resignation are actions that led to fragmentation or dismantled current environmental policy and which allowed the licensing of enterprises with great environmental impact without sufficient research and without the necessary precautions regarding associated risks.
Among the actions – the dismantling of the collection of environmental compensation provided for by federal law; lack of tools to assess the impact of enterprises; failure to regulate or implement State Law No. 23 291/19, which provides for the collection of a deposit for the licensing of tailings facilities; concession for water use projects with high pollution potential🇧🇷 and not the creation of new units of conservation and complete protection over the past four years.
The letter also states that Minas Gerais deforestation champion the Atlantic Forest biome for six consecutive years and one of the most deforested areas of the Cerrado in recent years. Meanwhile, the state government shows no interest in measures to prevent this scenario, such as promoting “zero deforestation,” the organizations say.
“At the same time,” the letter says, “the government is internationally taking on carbon reduction and deforestation targets with no practical consequences.” The State Executive is present this week at COP 27 for presenting the Minas Gerais Climate Action Plan (PLAC-MG), which promises to be carbon neutral by 2050. One of the goals is to attract foreign investment.
Unequal treatment
In addition to the above failures, the letter denounces the unequal treatment between civil society organizations protecting the environment and commercial structures. The first decree forbade the re-election of one’s advisers. And the new Cherkhsky Regiment is demanding that environmental associations’ advisers be chosen by the government itself from a triple list.
“We will be ready to return and engage in dialogue through the Soviets with the state authorities and the private sector, when the government actually implements the above principle, respecting the constitutional principles of isonomy, citizenship, morality, political pluralism and impersonality, and above all the ability to dialogue and understanding that that society is more diverse than the corporate sectors,” the letter concludes.
Association for the Protection of the Environment of Minas Gerais (Amda), Association for the Social and Environmental Management of Tringo Mineiro, Association Pr Pouso Alegre (Appa), Espeleogroup Pains (EPA), Relictos Foundation in support of the Rio Doce Park, Institute of Guaqui and Verde Movement signed from Paracatu (Traffic).
Minas Gerais (Semad) State Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development was questioned by the report Condition of the minesbut hasn’t answered yet.
