Supreme Federal Court of Brazil
Socialist Party of Brazil, Sustainability Network, Democratic Labour Party, Green Party, Labour Party, Social and Liberal Party, Communist Party of Brazil
Federal Union
The Petitioners (seven Brazilian political parties) sought to challenge the inaction of the federal government and its bodies in implementing the national deforestation policy, before the Supreme Federal Court. Hereto, the Petitioners claimed that the Respondent’s inaction violated the fundamental constitutional rights of indigenous people and present and future generations, and that the Respondent was contributing to dangerous climate change through its inaction.
To further this implementation, the Petitioners asked the Court to set benchmarks to i.a. increase the federal authorities’ power to set penalties, in case of illegal deforestation.
The Supreme Federal Court did not declare unconstitutionality but did order the Respondent to make a significant commitment to combat illegal deforestation. Hereto, the Court determined that the Respondent should (i) adopt measures for the implementation of Brazil’s action plan for prevention and control of the legal Amazon deforestation, (ii) strengthen inspection bodies in the field and (iii) act transparently in providing information on compliance with this Court decision.