Environment and climate change in Brazil

similarities and differences in public opinion based on political identity

Abstract

This article explores the similarities and differences in opinions and attitudes reported by individuals with different political identities (“more left-leaning,” “center,” and “more right-leaning”). It analyzes secondary data from the 2022 survey “Climate Change and Public Perception in Brazil,” conducted through a partnership between the Instituto Tecnologia & Sociedade do Rio (ITS), the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, and Ipec Inteligência. The main objective of this study was to examine the survey data through the lens of politically motivated reasoning theory. It assessed statistically significant differences and tested the hypothesis that individuals who identify as more left-leaning tend to align strongly with environmentalist views, while those on the right are more likely to adopt anti-environmentalist and climate denialist positions. This trend aligns with the historical development of these political identities in relation to environmental issues in Brazil. The findings reveal a strong overall agreement among the Brazilian population, across all political groups, with scientific consensus on climate change and the importance of protecting the environment and the Amazon. However, the highest proportion of individuals who diverge from these majority opinions—expressing views more aligned with anti-environmentalist discourse—are found in the center and especially on the right, where nearly one-third of respondents in some cases hold such views. In contrast, the left shows an almost unanimous pro-environmentalist stance.