Regulatory framework for environmental policy in Brazil

Abstract

The Brazilian environment suffers from aggression to nature, with greater or lesser intensity. It is recognized that human activities do not always respect the limits imposed by ecosystems. In face of this, norms and regulations have been effective ways of protecting and conserving the environment. Environmental policy had its historical evolution beginning in antiquity and today it is a worldwide concern, registered in several international declarations and treaties. In Brazil, environmental legislation began in the colonial period and has been changing over time. This paper aims to make a brief retrospective of environmental policy, presenting the main regulatory framework of Brazilian environmental law.