Marina Silva affirmed that the decision on the Equatorial Margin oil project will be based on an objective analysis by Ibama. Following President Lula’s discontent with delays in licensing, Silva stressed that it is the President’s duty to uphold institutional integrity. With Brazil hosting COP30, Silva advocates for a focus on renewable energy and climate commitments while shielding regulatory agencies from political influences.
On February 25, Marina Silva, Brazil’s Environment and Climate Change Minister, stated that the environmental licensing decision for the Equatorial Margin oil exploration project will result from a thorough technical analysis conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama). She emphasized that both positive and negative outcomes would be essentially technical decisions by Ibama’s experts.
This assertion followed President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s recent expression of dissatisfaction regarding Ibama’s review timeline of Petrobras’s exploratory drilling request, which he characterized as procrastination. During this discourse, the President insinuated that the agency was acting contrary to governmental directives.
Minister Silva clarified that ensuring a smooth environmental review falls under President Lula’s responsibilities, not hers. She reiterated the significance of respecting public institutions like Ibama and ICMBio, which oversees Brazil’s national parks and conservation areas, while addressing the technical aspects of Petrobras’s licensing application off Amapá’s coast.
Since assuming her role, Minister Silva has made it a priority to safeguard Ibama from external pressures, particularly from the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Petrobras, and legislators from northern states.
As Brazil prepares to host the 30th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP30) this year, the government faces increasing demands for a cohesive approach to combatting the climate crisis, specifically in reducing oil production and consumption. Silva highlighted the importance of Brazil’s hosting role as a commitment to climate action.
Additionally, the minister underscored the urgency of transitioning to renewable energy, advocating for a threefold increase in renewable energy supply and a doubling of energy efficiency. Silva expressed Brazil’s need to uphold the “Mission 1.5” commitments, alongside the United Arab Emirates and Azerbaijan, to avoid exceeding a 1.5°C increase in global temperatures.
Moreover, in her post-address interview, Minister Silva remarked on Brazil’s relatively clean energy mix as a comparative advantage in its climate endeavors. Following suit, COP30 CEO Ana Toni discussed the inherent challenges to international cooperation against climate change, citing complexities posed by the global political landscape.
In summary, Minister Marina Silva underscores the technical nature of the upcoming environmental licensing decisions concerning the Equatorial Margin oil exploration project, asserting Ibama’s independence in this process. With heightened scrutiny due to Brazil’s role in hosting COP30, Silva emphasizes the necessity of energy transition and adherence to international climate commitments while managing external pressures on environmental regulatory agencies.
Original Source: valorinternational.globo.com
