Brazil’s environmentalists propose agreement to end strike over oil permits

By Fabio Teixeira

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Brazilian environmental officials presented the government with a deal on Tuesday to end their strike that has limited efforts to protect the Amazon rainforest and delayed approval of oil and gas projects.

The Ascema union and its affiliates called for a strike last month to demand better wages and working conditions.

The proposed deal waives most of the demands except for a salary increase. In a letter, Ascema accused the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of negotiating with “neglect, disrespect, contempt and disregard for those who are working on an agenda that is fundamental to the government’s goals.”

Lula’s office and the federal environmental agency Ibama did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lula is staking his international reputation on protecting the Amazon region and restoring Brazil’s leadership in climate protection after his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, made backward steps in environmental protection and massively promoted deforestation.

“This government has not kept its promise,” said Wallace Lopes, union leader at Ascema.

Lopes announced that even after a strike, the general work slowdown that began at Ibama in January would continue, delaying the issuance of environmental permits for oil production and other industrial projects.

He said Ibama staff were prepared to maintain the slowdown until the UN climate summit COP30, scheduled to take place in the Amazon city of Belem in 2025.

According to oil lobby group IBP, the lack of licenses is affecting production by 200,000 barrels per day. Brazilian state-owned oil company Petrobras said the lack of licenses had affected its activities at three oil fields.

The proposed deal comes after a judge in Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered – at the government’s request – that Ibama employees resume their licensing and forest fire prevention activities despite the strike.

(Reporting by Fabio Teixeira, editing by William Maclean)