Brazilians fear economy could be devastated by climate events
A survey by the Climainfo Institute reveals that 91 percent of Brazilians believe the economy will face devastating impacts if climate events worsen. The survey, released on Thursday (Nov. 14), gathered responses from 2,000 participants.
The survey also reveals that 79 percent of respondents want Brazil to lead the global energy transition. Additionally, 64 percent believe the country should focus its economic development on eliminating the production and consumption of fossil fuels. An even larger share—73 percent—think combating climate change should be a top government priority. Nearly all respondents (97%) support ending deforestation by 2030.
According to the survey, 81 percent of respondents mistakenly believe deforestation is the primary cause of global climate change. Additionally, 72 percent think companies that produce fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, are responsible for climate extremes, while 71 percent believe it is possible to eliminate fossil fuel use by 2050.
"Numerous polls have already shown that Brazilians understand the climate is changing due to human activity. What stands out in this survey is the high percentage of respondents who recognize that the burning of fossil fuels is the main driver of climate change, along with the growing awareness that the energy transition could present an economic opportunity for Brazil," said Delcio Rodrigues, director of the ClimaInfo Institute.
The data were collected through the Pollfish platform on July 15, 2024, in an online format, with approximately 2,000 participants. The survey has a margin of error of 2 percent.
