Last week, Fundação Getulio Vargas welcomed a delegation from the prestigious White House Fellowship, one of the foremost public service leadership programs in the United States. The visit, which took place in Sao Paulo, was part of the program’s annual international tour, and it was attended by 18 rising young professionals, selected to work alongside high-ranking U.S. government officials.

During the visit, the group took part in a special meeting organized by Fundação Getulio Vargas’ School of International Relations (FGV RI), which included a talk by Professor Matias Spektor. He presented the results of a research project called “Brazilians’ Thoughts on Climate Change and Communication Strategies,” recently published in the renowned journal Nature Communications.

Study

This study revealed that while most Brazilians believe in the existence of climate change and people’s responsibility for it, there is no consensus as to the seriousness of the crisis. Around 44% of respondents expressed skepticism, doubting that climate change will have a significant negative impact on their lives.

The study indicates that the main factor influencing the acceptance of these beliefs is the perception of scientific consensus, while climate skepticism is more prevalent among people with a more individualistic psychological profile. Unlike the pattern observed in the United States and Europe, this skepticism is not limited to the political right in Brazil but is also present on the left.

Furthermore, skepticism about the severity of the climate crisis is more common in Brazil than in other Latin American countries, such as Argentina, Chile and Colombia. This research has important implications for public policy making, suggesting that in order to engage the most skeptical citizens, it is essential to communicate pro-climate messages in a way that involves the private sector and respected figures, such as businesspeople and financial market operators, especially in a context of low trust in public institutions.

For more information about FGV RI, click here.