Analysis: Rui Costa’s support and promise of transversality give an optimistic tone to Marina’s tenure

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The inauguration of Marina Silva at the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change this Wednesday (4th) drew attention as one of the most crowded since the beginning of the Lula government, reinforcing, once again, the importance that the issue has gained in the country and in the world.

But who gave the “lead” —as they say in journalistic jargon about the most relevant information—, perhaps it was not the environmentalist from Acre, but the new Minister of the Civil House, Rui Costa.

“Marina, you can count on us, with the best that each of us ministers has, because the Civil House of the Presidency of the Republic will express every day, ensuring that the environment is seen transversally in all ministries of the Republic” , said Costa in a brief speech before Marina’s presentation.

Without overshadowing the former senator and federal deputy elected by São Paulo, Costa tried to signal that Marina will have the support of the entire government — a condition that seemed a bit obvious in view of the emphasis that Lula gave to the environmental agenda during the campaign, but that staggered due to the delay in choosing her name for the folder.

At the end of last year, before Lula closed down the choices for his ministry, there was doubt for weeks about who would take over MMA. Simone Tebet, who will take over Planning, was even invited to the post, amidst rumors that members of the PT would have made reservations about Marina’s name because they considered her too radical.

“When we think about the Ministry of Cities, the Ministry of Infrastructure, transport, ports, we will think about the sustainability of the environment, the ecosystem and the balance of these projects”, continued Costa.

“That’s why I want to say that the Ministry of the Environment will be invited, summoned to participate from the beginning of all the conceptions of these projects. Replacing that old view that the MMA only entered when the project was ready to analyze whether or not it was adequate to the legal framework. We are going to reverse this”, said the Minister of the Civil House, a strong name of the PT.

“With this we will at the same time achieve more speed to the projects and that they arise without controversy and in response to what today is a cry not from Brazil, but from humanity that is the environment, renewable energies and sustainability for human beings and for the life on our planet,” he said.

Marina danced to the music. She said her colleague’s words sounded like a “sweet melody”.

Costa’s speech sounded like an endorsement for putting into practice a principle considered fundamental by Marina for the environmental policy to move forward: transversality.

From the moment she agreed to support Lula, Marina makes it clear that the fight against deforestation and climate change and the adoption of policies for sustainable economic growth will only work if all ministries embark in the same direction.

Speech was incorporated by Lula, but speech is not always synonymous with action, and the confusion over Marina’s nomination generated uneasiness. Lula reinforced the message in his speech at the inauguration and this Wednesday, with Costa present, she repeated it at Marina’s ceremony.

The Chief of Staff, former governor of Bahia, is a name with whom Marina will probably have to negotiate a lot. The portfolio was fundamental 20 years ago, in Lula’s — and Marina’s — first term, when the PPCDAm plan was drawn up to combat deforestation in the Amazon. The political command of the PPCDAm belonged to the Civil House.

Another name that will be an important interlocutor is Carlos Fávaro, from Agriculture, a field that has traditionally opposed the environment. In her speech, Marina sought to call the two to combat. “Because we, the ministers — God willing, right, Fávaro? —, We’re going to work a lot together”, she teased her.

For 20 years, Marina has already defended transversality and, with her team, created a program to combat deforestation that covered 13 ministries. This time, the idea is that 17 portfolios will join the efforts.

“Transversality is no longer a wish, a dream, it is a reality, described in the organizational structures of all the new Esplanada portfolios”, stated Marina, signaling that she will also seek consensus and conciliation.

“I undertake, through the ministry that I have the honor of leading, to make all my efforts so that these written letters are translated into practice. The role of MMA is not to be an obstacle to the fair expectations of economic and social development of our population, but a facilitator to guide how these demands can be met without prejudice to the necessary protection of our natural resources.”

She knows the size of the trouble that lies ahead. “There will naturally be tensions and contradictions. Transversality is still incipient. Sectorial visions need to evolve towards a more integrative perspective, brought about by new paradigms underway around the world”, she also said.

Speeches, speeches. To see where this evolution will go.

The Planeta em Transe project is supported by the Open Society Foundations.

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