Análise do processo de descentralização do licenciamento ambiental no estado do Ceará: perspectivas e desafios

Abstract

The decentralization of environmental licensing has emerged as a crucial strategy to strengthen local environmental management and promote a more efficient and contextualized administration of environmental issues. In the state of Ceará, this decentralization is regulated by COEMA Resolution No. 07, dated September 12, 2019, which establishes the criteria and requirements for municipalities to assume responsibility for licensing activities with local impact. Seeking to analyze the process of decentralizing environmental licensing in Ceará, this study investigates the institutional capacity of municipalities to carry out environmental licensing according to the parameters established by the aforementioned resolution and other related factors, such as the presence of a municipal environmental policy, an active environmental council, and multidisciplinary and inspection teams. The methodology adopted includes a preliminary analysis of the municipalities with licensing competence and the application of a questionnaire to professionals involved in municipal environmental management. With the collaboration of the Association of Municipalities and Mayors of the State of Ceará (APRECE), it was possible to distribute the questionnaire to 104 municipalities, of which 45 responded, providing a representative sample of 43.27%. The collected data indicate that, although most municipalities partially meet the criteria of the resolution, there is significant variability in the structure and organization of local environmental agencies. The study also included an assessment of professionals’ perceptions of the effectiveness of municipal environmental licensing and gathered improvement proposals. Among the highlighted suggestions are the need to create exclusive secretariats for environmental matters, implement computerized systems for document management, and provide continuous support for the training of municipal employees.