Marina Silva takes on as Minister of Climate & Environment

Marina Silva,  socio environmental activist and congresswoman elect, took on her post as Minister of Climate & Environment in the Lula’s government  on Wednesday, January 4th. In her speech, she criticized the previous administration, reaffirmed that Brazil will no longer behave as an “environmental pariah” and announced a new governance structure, including the creation of a Special Secretary to Control Deforestation. This is the second time Marina becomes Minister – she worked the same role between 2003-2008, during Lula’s two first presidential terms. 

She also remembered the rampant killings of forest and land defenders in the Amazon, mentioning the British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira. Marina Silva referred to the ‘cattle herd strategy’ adopted by Bolsonaro to weaken environmental legislation amid the covid-19 pandemic in Brazil. “Where there was supposed to be mainly protection, a lot of destruction passed. Several representatives of the National Congress helped to lead all this dismantling process”, she said. 

The new minister announced measures such as the returning the Brazilian Forest Service and the National Water Agency to the Ministry, as well as the creation of special secretaries to: Control Deforestation and Land Use; promote Bioeconomy; Urban Environmental Management and Quality, Sustainable Rural Development and Traditional Communities and Peoples. The re-establishment and enforcement of a national, intersectional plan to curb deforestation in the Amazon and other biomes was also mentioned. Finally, the change to the name of the Ministry which is now called “Ministry of Climate and Environment” to better reflect the urgency of the global climate crisis.

According to the G1 news portal, the ceremony was packed and a projector was set up outside the room to accommodate the overflow of people. 

Lula’s chief of staff, Rui Costa, asserted that the Ministry of Climate and Environment will be asked to engage on the conception and development of projects and policies for the country, with an intersectional and pivotal role in the current government.