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Environment Panel Narrowly Backs Partial Delegation of Lawmaking Powers

The split opinion shifts final review to the Constitution committee and highlights a brewing fight over whether faster permitting will weaken environmental safeguards.

Overview

  • The Environment and Sustainability Commission approved a consultative opinion that partially supports the executive’s request for delegated legislative powers, a decision decided by chair Arturo Alegría’s tie-breaking vote after a 9–9 split on Tuesday.
  • That opinion endorses limited measures on strengthening environmental management, administrative simplification, a global environmental certification, remediation of environmental liabilities, and policies for energy transition and renewables including green hydrogen.
  • The Energy and Mines Commission issued a separate “no viable” opinion, voting 11–8 against giving the executive powers on sector matters and summoning Energy Minister Guillermo Shinno to explain his plans on September 15.
  • Civil-society experts including the Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Ambiental warned that proposals such as automatic approval or positive administrative silence would clash with the preventive nature of Peru’s SEIA impact-review system and pose constitutional and environmental risks.
  • All committee opinions are advisory and will be forwarded to the Constitution Commission, which controls the final predictamen and timetable; the outcome will determine whether decrees with force of law could speed approvals that critics say risk water, protected areas and indigenous rights.