Brazilian President Lula's Environmental Ambitions Suffer Legislative Defeat

Brazilian lawmakers aligned with agribusiness interests passed legislation limiting the creation of new Indigenous territories and stripping key environmental ministries of authority.
The bills hamper the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples from approving new Indigenous lands and prevent the Ministry of Environment from managing a property registry used to curb illegal deforestation.
The legislation shows the rising influence of Brazil's beef caucus, which opposes new Indigenous territories and deforestation controls.
Critics argue Lula did not do enough to stop the bills, which still require Senate approval and Lula's signature to become law.
If enacted, the changes would mark a major setback for environmental protections in the Amazon rainforest under Lula.