Paper short abstract:

This paper examines the intersection of domestic and international environmental policy in Brazil from the perspective of environmental social movements.

Paper long abstract:

With Brazil emerging as an economic and political power with global leadership ambitions, its commitment to environmental protection has also come under increasing scrutiny domestically and internationally. While the Brazilian government tends to stress national autonomy and sovereignty over natural resources, it has also made several notable contributions to climate change negotiations. More recently the Brazilian government has committed itself to a unilateral and voluntary reduction of carbon emissions and has shifted its policies away from the traditional emphasis on developing countries' differentiated responsibilities. However, there are significant discrepancies between Brazil's domestic and foreign environmental policy priorities, which can be explained by conflicting commitments to economic and green development strategies, as well as its global and regional leadership ambitions. At the same time civil society organisations have drawn attention to these very discrepancies and are playing an increasingly significant role in policy-making in Brazil through their use of protest and lobbying. This paper examines the role of Brazilian environmental social movements in recent debates on environmental issues, including the expansion of hydro-electric power generation and rainforest protection (Forest Code legislation). Although these policies are a key part of Brazil's efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change, they have also provoked vocal international and domestic opposition due to their high environmental and social costs.