A municipalização do licenciamento ambiental no estado do Ceará: um estudo de caso no município de Aquiraz

Abstract

The municipalization of environmental licensing represents a key mechanism for decentralizing environmental management in Brazil, granting municipalities the authority to license projects with local environmental impacts. Although this process aims to promote greater agility, alignment with local realities, and stronger environmental oversight, its benefits and effects on environmental management efficiency remain widely debated. Within this context, this study seeks to investigate and analyze the current landscape of environmental licensing municipalization in the state of Ceará, based on the perceptions of professionals working within Aquiraz’s municipal environmental agency particularly those directly and routinely involved in local environmental licensing procedures. This research adopts an exploratory and descriptive social research design, with a mixed-methods approach, using the case study method. The study is grounded in bibliographic research, documentary analysis, and field data collection through interviews and a focus group. The results indicate that Aquiraz possesses structural and legal conditions compatible with decentralized environmental licensing; however, it still faces institutional and operational constraints that compromise its full effectiveness. Key challenges identified include: limited technical staff, corroborated by an IQTM score of 0.62; the lack of standardized procedures; poor functioning of the protocol system; incomplete application processing; political interference; the absence of specific legislation; the lack of career development plan and continuous training policies for public servants; and the fragility of the Municipal Environmental Council, which has not effectively fulfilled its deliberative and advisory roles. In conclusion, although the municipalization of environmental licensing in Aquiraz has strengthened local institutional capacity, further structural and operational improvements are still required to enhance efficiency, transparency, and municipal environmental control.