Navigating the Turbulent Waters of Public Participation in Brazil: A Case Study of the Santo Antônio and Jirau Hydroelectric Dams

Abstract

This thesis is about public participation in environmental policy-making in Brazil. It analyses one of its main instruments, the participatory process related to Environmental Impact Assessments. The research focused on a case study of the licensing process of two large hydroelectric dams, the Santo Antônio and Jirau Dams, in the Brazilian Amazon. It aims at generating insights into the effectiveness of Brazilian Environmental Impact Assessment system in relation to public participation and make recommendations for its improvement.