How do participants of public hearings for large hydroelectric plants evaluate public participation in IBAMA's environmental licensing process?

Abstract

the public hearing is the methodology for social participation commonly used in the environmental licensing of potentially polluting activities in Brazil and many other countries. As such, its purpose should enable the expression of groups directly affected by and/or interested in the proposed projects, ensuring social oversight in the decision-making process by the licensing authority. However, there are obstacles that hinder the inclusion of popular demands in the analysis of the socio-environmental feasibility of the projects, as reported in the literature, although studies focusing on the participants' perspectives remain scarce. In this sense, it is understood that the perception of those who participate in hearings during the environmental licensing process should be better considered when investigating existing issues, as well as in providing suggestions to make the hearings more effective mechanisms of social participation, as proposed by this article. To this end, an analysis was conducted on the content related to the problems and recommendations concerning public hearings as reported by their participants. This information was identified in the minutes of public hearings held by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources, with a focus on hydroelectric power plants. In terms of challenges faced by the participants, the following issues were mentioned: the short interval between the announcement and the actual holding of the hearings, difficulties in understanding the Environmental Impact Reports, as well as the limited time available for their review; mistrust regarding the content of the Environmental Impact Studies for the projects; the complex language used during the sessions; the inflexibility of the hearing procedures; concerns about transparency in decision-making; and dissatisfaction with the consultations conducted with affected Indigenous peoples. Considering the need to democratize public hearings, it is suggested that representatives of the affected social groups participate in the composition of the panels leading the sessions. Additionally, the environmental agency should recognize the importance of social input during these events, avoiding their reduction to a merely bureaucratic formality within the environmental licensing process.