Initial Petition from the Prosecutor’s Office of the State of Goiás (in Portuguese)

This is a Public Civil Action, with a request for an injunction, brought by the Public Prosecutor's Office of the State of Goiás (MPGO) against the state of Goiás. It seeks to compel the state to take the necessary measures to improve air quality and, consequently, safeguard the health of the population by implementing a public environmental policy for monitoring and controlling air pollution and climate change. The plaintiff claims that the regional government has failed to comply with public environmental control policies aimed at protecting air quality and the climate. It stresses the state's repeated inertia in combating climate change, controlling air pollution and monitoring vehicle pollution, evidenced by the lack of technical actions, such as implementing a network of air quality monitoring stations, carrying out an inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mobile sources, as well as implementing Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Programs.

The MPGO highlights the omission in the analysis of climate impacts in environmental licensing procedures in the state. It claims that although the State Policy on Climate Change - PEMC (State Law 16.497/2009) was instituted in line with the National Policy on Climate Change - PNMC (Federal Law 12.187/2009), few public policies have been implemented. It also points out the lack of implementation of instruments to prevent atmospheric pollution and climate change, especially the Atmospheric Emissions Control Plan (PCEA) and the Vehicle Pollution Control Plan (PCPV). It highlights the inadequacy of the PCPV in the state of Goiás.
It outlines the risks of damage to human health and the environment caused by air pollution and noise pollution. It links air pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels to the climate crisis. 

It requests, as an injunction, that the State of Goiás be ordered to adopt measures aimed at implementing Conama Resolutions 01/1993, 02/1993, 418/2009 and 491/2018, Federal Laws 8.723/1993, 9.503/1997 and 12.187/2009, the Paris Agreement (enacted by Federal Decree 9.073/2017) and State Law 16.497/2009. On the merits, it requests that the State of Goiás be ordered, among other measures: (i) to implement public environmental policies to control pollution and combat climate change, by drawing up the PCEA, including a network to monitor air quality throughout the state, from both mobile and stationary sources of gas emissions; (ii) to implement a network to monitor air quality throughout the state;(iii) to update the PCPV; (iv) to draw up, implement and carry out the Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program (I/M) and the annual Environmental Vehicle Inspection Program for gas and noise emissions in motor vehicles; (v) to define and publish Administrative Regulations establishing (v.1) activities with significant GHG emissions for the purposes of environmental licensing and the requirement to submit a GHG Emission Inventory, (v.2) Term of Reference (TR) criteria for drawing up the Inventory and (v.3 ) technical criteria and standards for assessing environmental impacts on the micro and macroclimate in environmental licensing procedures in the state, as well as GHG mitigation and compensation instruments; (vi) to prove that all environmental licensing procedures in progress that have an Environmental Impact Study and respective Environmental Impact Report (EIA/RIMA) require an inventory of GHG emissions, as well as the obligation to present an assessment of environmental impacts on the micro and macroclimate in the TRs; and (vii) to draw up a State Inventory of GHG Emissions.

In response to the request for injunctive relief, a preliminary injunction was granted, ordering the immediate implementation of the violated normative provisions. The court considered that the failure of the government to comply with its legal and constitutional obligations would be enough to prove fumus boni juris, while the danger of damage would be characterized by the risk to collective health. 

The state of Goiás filed an interlocutory appeal with suspensive effect, asking for the injunction to be overturned, indicating, in short, (i) the absolute nullity of the decision, since the federal court would be competent to deal with the case, and (ii) the lack of the necessary requirements for granting urgent relief.

In addition, the state of Goiás filed an opposition. The state argued that only the Executive Branch can determine the form and condition of implementation of environmental public policies, considering the financial resources available. It argued that the Public Prosecutor uses the judicial process to request the implementation of public policies, which is not the appropriate way and interferes with the principle of separation of powers. 

The state requested, among other things, a preliminary ruling: (i) a declaration of the court's lack of jurisdiction, since the subject matter of the lawsuit deals with the administrative competence of the Federal Union and the municipalities; (ii) the calling to account of the State Traffic Department (Detran/GO), the Goiás Infrastructure and Transport Agency (Goinfra), the Federal Union and the municipalities of Goiás; (iii) the suspension of the dispute for 365 days so that the parties can begin negotiations to establish objective parameters for the implementation of public policies; and (ii) the creation of a Working Group with professionals with knowledge in the areas subject to regulation. On the merits, among other issues, it requested that the injunction be dismissed and that the plaintiff's claims be declared unfounded. In the alternative, it asked that the limits on the reviewability of administrative acts by the Judiciary, the separation of powers and the federal pact be respected.

In the context of the interlocutory appeal 5245769-11.2022.8.09.0051, the Court of Justice issued a ruling in which it partially accepted the appeal filed by the state of Goiás. It held that it was not possible for the Court to examine the preliminary thesis of absolute incompetence of the Common State Court, as it had not been examined by the previous court. On the merits, it considered that the requirements for granting the injunction requested by the Public Prosecutor's Office had been met. He stressed that the installation of systems to control noise and air pollution emitted by motor vehicles in the state of Goiás has a normative basis for compliance, and recognized that they had not been effectively implemented, resulting in a violation of the constitutional duty to protect the environment. He stated that the aggravated decision merely ordered the appellant to comply with environmental laws. It held that the state had sufficient time to implement public policies, such as those aimed at monitoring and controlling air pollution and climate change and controlling noise pollution, which constituted an omission. It therefore dismissed the appeal.

In an interlocutory decision, the court ordered that the enforcement of the preliminary injunction be processed in separate proceedings, to avoid deviations in the main case and in the analysis of the merits of the action.

On January 19, 2026, a judgment was issued, which partially granted the requests made by the plaintiff, confirming the preliminary injunction granted and ordering the State of Goiás to: (i) prepare and implement the Atmospheric Emissions Control Plan (PCEA); (ii) update the Vehicle Pollution Control Plan (PCPV); (iii) complete the installation and operation of the remaining automatic air quality monitoring stations; (iv) prepare and implement the Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program; (v) improve the regulations on environmental impact assessments related to climate change in environmental licensing procedures, specifying technical criteria for the analysis of GHG emissions in large-scale and high-polluting potential projects; (vi) require the submission of GHG emission inventories from licensed industrial projects; and (vii) keep the State GHG Emissions Inventory updated. The ruling acknowledged that certain obligations had already been implemented, such as the establishment of the State Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, the acquisition of some air quality monitoring stations, the creation of the Climate Change and Ecosystem Services Management Unit, among others, and ordered the monitoring of compliance with these obligations. Regarding the defense's argument concerning the principle of separation of powers, the court stated that there is no impediment to judicial review when it comes to verifying compliance with specific legal obligations, and there is no intrusion into administrative merit when the Public Administration remains inactive in the face of express normative commands. It understood that this hypothesis occurred in the specific case, due to the non-implementation of the State Policy on Climate Change, the Vehicle Pollution Control Plan, and the Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program by the state for more than a decade.

In response to the decision, the state of Goiás filed an appeal.

Prosecutor’s Office of the State of Goiás v. State of Goiás (State public policy on air quality control)

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Prosecutor’s Office of the State of Goiás v. State of Goiás (State public policy on air quality control) - petition

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An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

Risk is the potential for adverse consequences resulting from the dynamic interplay between (climate-related) hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of affected human or ecological systems.

Groups  of people who are adversely affected by climate change or the response to it

A set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.

Justice is the ethical and political framework that addresses fairness, including issues of responsibility, rights, and structural inequity.

Renewable energy means all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner.

Fossil fuel is a generic term for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, fossil gas, and oil (including crude oil, and petroleum products), that can be used for electricity and heat generation. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons formed from pressurised and heated organic material buried over millions of years.

Molecules in the atmosphere that play a key role in the greenhouse effect by trapping heat radiating from Earth’s surface.

Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

In human systems, the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects, in order to moderate harm, increase resilience or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjustment to actual climate change and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate change and its effects.

The management and allocation of funds, assets and investments to meet various objectives

People who are less able to respond to the effects of climate change due to having limited financial or physical assets

Tradable permits are market-based tools that grant permission for specific activities, frequently used to regulate emissions. These permits can be issued within a trading system to manage environmental impacts.

Codes and standards are regulatory instruments that specify minimum standards to protect health and safety. This ranges from performance standards, which prescribe outcomes while allowing flexibility to achieve compliance, to the more prescriptive approach of technology-specific standards.

Zoning and spatial planning are both methods for guiding the distribution of people and activities in a space, and are regulatory restriction.

Either money or something of monetary value is transferred between two or more organisations, people or countries.

Conditions that enhance the feasibility of adaptation options. Enabling conditions include finance, technological innovation, strengthening policy instruments, institutional capacity, multi-level governance and changes in human behaviour and lifestyles.

Actions or measures to adapt freshwater systems to climate change.

Coastal zone and marine-related actions and measures to adapt and increase resilience to climate change

Actions or measures to adapt freshwater, coastal and marine systems to climate change.

Hot temperature extremes are daily maximum temperatures  that were exceeded on average once in a decade or once in 50 years, and includes heatwaves.

The release of heat-trapping gases, primarily from human activities such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture and industry.

A long-lived, colourless gas, chiefly emitted from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation and cement production.

A potent, short-lived greehouse gas, largely released from livestock, fossil fuel extraction and waste management.

Risks to the ecosystem health of the marine environment, including ocean warming, ocean acidification, and ocean deoxygenation, harming biodiversity, species health, ecosystem services, and coastal community livelihoods.

Extreme weather refers to events where a weather variable exceeds (or falls below) a threshold. Meaning it is significantly different from the average or usual weather pattern.

A drought is an extended period of unusually dry weather marked by a significant and sustained lack of precipitation, falling below a specific threshold over a large area for more than a month

Terrestrial means "of the earth" and relates to the risks to ecological system that includes all living organisms and their interactions within land-based environments, such as forests, grasslands, and deserts.

Air pollution involves harmful contaminants in the air, affecting both indoor and outdoor environments. It can lead to health issues like respiratory diseases and heart problems, and climate impacts such as global warming. Pollutants can damage plants, trees, habitats, and water bodies like rivers and lakes.

Oil is a combustible liquid fossil fuel composed mainly of hydrocarbons, occurring as crude oil and refined into petroleum products such as petrol, diesel and kerosene.

Fossil gas, commonly known as natural gas, is a fossil fuel consisting chiefly of methane with smaller amounts of other hydrocarbons and trace gases, found in underground deposits.

People whose health, both mental and physical, makes them more vulnerable to the effects of climate change

woman and genders outside of the gender binary

The activities of industries that transforms raw materials into finished goods through industrial processes.

This sector involves managing waste treatment, sanitation, pollution control and environmental cleanup.

Activities that involve planning, designing and building infrastructure, residential, and commercial structures.

This sector involves activities that impart knowledge and skills to individuals, including formal schooling, vocational training and educational support.

Activities of government agencies and institutions that provide public services, enforce laws and manage public resources.

This sector includes firms and individuals offering specialised expertise in fields such as law, accounting, consulting, science and engineering.

Activities of businesses and institutions that provide financial services and products to individuals and organisations.

Activities that involve the cultivation of crops and raising of livestock for food, fibre, and other products essential for human life and industry.

This sector provides medical services, manufactures medical equipment, and develops pharmaceuticals to maintain and improve health.

Climate change can have a range of impacts on technological system. Extreme weather events can cause infrastructure failures like power outages or damage to roads and bridges, as well as the impacts from waste following natural disasters. Human activities also cause technological impacts, such as the risks posed by oil spillage and leaks.

Slow onset events evolve gradually from incremental changes over many years or from increased frequency or intensity of recurring events. As defined in the Cancun Adaptation Framework (2010), slow onset events include risks and impacts from rising temperatures, desertification, biodiversity loss, land and forest degradation, glacial retreat, ocean acidification, sea level rise, and salinization.

Heavy precipitation refers to any form of weather where substances fall from the sky, including rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

The cryosphere is the frozen part of the Earth—it includes sea ice, glaciers, snow, and ice sheets. It helps regulate the climate and weather by reflecting sunlight. Rising temperatures are causing melting, leading to sea ice loss, glacier collapse, and glacier landslides and avalanches. This threatens the livelihoods of around 700 million people who rely on the cryosphere for food, water security, and cultural practices.

Geohazards are adverse geological phenomenon's that are capable of causing widespread damage or loss to property, life and the environment, such as earthquakes, volcano eruptions and tsunamis. Climate change can increase the frequency and severity of some geohazards, such as landslides, and soil erosion.

Prosecutor’s Office of the State of Goiás v. State of Goiás (State public policy on air quality control) - petition

Policy instrument

Risk

Impacted group

Fossil fuel

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector

Adaptation/resilience

Finance