Environment

Climate constitutional amendment advances in blow to Bolsonaro

The government opposes the move, saying Brazil cannot single-handedly guarantee climate security

climate Jair Bolsonaro's environmental record has turned him into an international bogeyman. Photo: Paralaxis/Shutterstock
Jair Bolsonaro’s environmental record has turned him into an international bogeyman. Photo: Paralaxis/Shutterstock

In a political defeat for the Jair Bolsonaro administration, the House Constitution and Justice Committee on Tuesday approved a constitutional amendment proposal codifying climate security as a constitutional right.

The proposal passed by a 26-10 majority despite efforts from pro-Bolsonaro lawmakers to block it. Congressman Gilson Marques, of the libertarian party Novo, moved to shelve the discussion, while Congresswoman Bia Kicis, a die-hard Bolsonarista and one of the government’s deputy whips, tried to postpone the vote. 

Both efforts failed.

Tuesday’s vote creates a special committee to discuss the proposal for the constitutional amendment more thoroughly. To become a part of Brazil’s Constitution, the text will need support from two-thirds of lawmakers in...

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