Approved in August 2025, the General Environmental Licensing Law (GELL) will come into force in February 2026 and promises to change the way projects and activities with environmental impact are authorized in the country.

The new law establishes transitional rules for ongoing proceedings and creates simplified licensing models, such as Licensing by Adhesion and Commitment (LAC) and Special Environmental Licensing (SEL), aimed at increasing efficiency but which may reduce technical review and public participation.

Among the criticisms, experts point to the weakening of municipal autonomy, the limitation of public participation, and the absence of climate-related issues in the text, which may lead to legal uncertainty and distance Brazil from its international environmental commitments.

The GELL seeks to balance development and environmental protection, but its effectiveness will depend on how it is implemented, particularly with regard to strengthening local governance.