Decentralization of public policies for integrated environmental management: an analysis of the Município VerdeAzul program

Abstract

In terms of public policies in Brazil, especially within the environmental theme, there is a chain of constitutionally established competences between the federative entities (Union, States, Federal District and Municipalities). With respect to this chain of competences, considering the internationally defended principle of sustainability, namely, "think globally and act locally", attention should be paid to the decentralization of both environmental policies and their command and control instruments, as well as economic, voluntary and market instruments. In view of this, the main objective of this paper is to discuss and analyze the decentralization of power as a tool for the management of environmental public policies. In this sense, and more objectively, it is intended to identify some of the main decentralizing characteristics of the program developed for a long time in the state of São Paulo, designated as the "GreenBlue Municipality Program". To this end, a literature review and document analysis were carried out on the topic to be discussed, especially within the scope of the State Secretariat for the Environment, Infrastructure and Logistics (SEMIL). At the end of this discussion and analysis, it was possible to conclude that the VerdeAzul Municipality program effectively has, in one of its principles, a decentralized management, which is presented in a fully articulated and transparent manner with respect to the processes and actions included in the management of the municipalities. In other words, there is a control on the part of SEMIL with respect to the results achieved (objectives and targets) by the municipalities of São Paulo that voluntarily adhered to the VerdeAzul Municipality Program, but, on the other hand, the benefits achieved by the municipalities are pre-established and offered automatically, integrating the actions. In this sense, it is possible to understand that decentralization, in this case, has a bidirectional sense, that is, it allows the exchange and interaction from the State to the Municipalities and from the Municipalities to the State.