“THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO LOOK FOR CULPRITS”: THE DISMANTLING OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES IN THE GOVERNMENT OF EDUARDO LEITE AND THE CLIMATE CALAMITY IN RIO GRANDE DO SUL IN MAY 2024

Abstract

This work aims to answer the following question: What is the impact of Eduardo Leite's neoliberal policy on the dismantling of environmental laws in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and the environmental disaster of May 2024? Neoliberalism is considered a political method and the diffusion of a market model beyond the market, implying a norm of life that relates to dimensions of competition and privatization of companies. The aforementioned political-economic model is characterized by the discourse of State inefficiency and favoritism of capital. In this regard, similarities are identified between the policies and speeches given by the current governor Eduardo Leite (PSDB) in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Therefore, in the first year of his management, he changed 480 points in the state's Environmental Code, with clear intention of favoring businesspeople. The current research will use qualitative data analysis and bibliographic review as a methodological approach. In view of the analyses, it is observed that in his government plan propagated in 2018, Leite signaled intentions to connect the environment to entrepreneurship, confirmed after changes in the 2019 Environmental Law, which, until then, was considered a pioneering model in environmental protection. After the climate calamity of May 2024, Leite stated that the government was warned of the possible risks arising from climate change, but prioritized other agendas, being negligent in his management.