THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DISMANTLING OF BRAZIL’S POLICY ON SOCIAL PARTICIPATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES

Abstract

This article aims to establish relationships between the dismantling of the Política Nacional de Participação Social (PNPS – National Policy for Social Participation) and Brazilian environmental policies. Participation aims to ensure a civil society equity in political decision-making and social control of State. However, with the dismantling of the PNPS, many participating institutions are being limited, including the environmental management councils. This article conducted an institutional analysis within three councils: the Conselho Nacional de Meio Ambiente (CONAMA – National Environmental Council), Conselho Nacional de Recursos Hídricos (CNRH – National Resources Council), and the Conselho Deliberativo do Fundo Nacional do Meio Ambiente (Deliberative Council of the National Environmental Fund). These councils were changed in 2019, through the Decree n. 9,806/2019, the Decree n. 10,000/2019 and the Decree n. 10.224/2020. The data show that important numerous civil society representations were excluded from CONAMA and CNRH. In the Conselho Deliberativo do Fundo Nacional do Meio Ambiente, civil society representations were completely eliminated. In this context, parity and plurality were suppressed from these councils.