Class Action and Environmental Protection: A Systematic Review of Brazilian Legal Literature (2000–2024)

Objective: This article aims to examine Brazilian academic production on popular actions in environmental matters between 2000 and 2024, identifying the main theoretical, methodological approaches, and existing gaps in legal literature. Theoretical framework: The analysis is based on the understanding of popular action as a constitutional remedy for social control and the protection of metaindividual rights, especially in the environmental field. Key authors include Souza (2009), Telles (2008), Lima (2019), and Lucena (2015). Method: The research adopts a systematic literature review, gathering dissertations, theses, and scientific articles from the CAPES database and the Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (BDTD). Combined descriptors (“popular action,” “environmental law,” “environmental protection,” “sustainability”) were used, and inclusion criteria focused on studies linking constitutional and environmental law. The final sample comprised ten works, organized in analytical tables by methodological nature, object, and identified gaps. Results and discussion: The results show a predominance of theoretical-dogmatic approaches (8 studies) and a scarcity of empirical investigations (2 studies). Most works analyze popular actions through a normative lens, emphasizing the legal “ought to be” rather than practical application. The main gaps concern the lack of empirical data, regional comparisons, and concrete proposals for modernization. Research implications: The findings point to the need to strengthen the dialogue between theory and practice in environmental legal studies by incorporating empirical methodologies and judicial decision analysis. Originality/Value: The study systematizes, for the first time, the academic production on environmental popular actions in Brazil, highlighting trends and challenges that support future empirical and comparative research.