Eight out of ten Brazilians have supported victims of climate events
Eight out of ten (82%) Brazilians over the age of 16 have supported relief efforts for victims of natural disasters. The finding stems from a survey conducted by Nexus at the request of Movimento União BR, which works to connect donors, NGOs, and social projects. The study also warns that a quarter of respondents have experienced or know someone who has experienced extreme weather events.
A total of 2,013 citizens aged 16 and over were heard in person in the 27 Brazilian states from April 29 to May 5, 2025.
In addition to the 82 percent of respondents saying they had taken some measure to help disaster victims, 21 percent said they had volunteered.
The most common action was making donations—with the most frequent being clothing and shoes (68%), water and food (58%), money (37%), and medication (27%).
A preference was detected for the type of beneficiary of donations. Half (52%) of respondents prefer to direct them to causes in their cities or regions, while national causes account for about 28 percent of those heard.
The perception of the institutions that mediate donations was also mapped. Churches and religious institutions are perceived as more trustworthy by 46 percent of respondents, followed by fire departments and civil defense agencies (44%), and NGOs (32%). Here, respondents were allowed to choose up to three options, which is why percentages add up to more than 100 percent.
The survey also mapped out the efforts Brazilians intend to make in the future. According to Nexus, about half (49%) of respondents intend to volunteer, 42 percent plan to donate medicine, and 29 percent plan to donate water and food.
“Brazilians are willing to help, and the survey lists the factors that motivate this type of action, providing valuable insights for the various actors involved in donation campaigns. The survey also presents relevant data for companies at a time of growing engagement in social responsibility actions on an ESG [environmental, social, and corporate governance] agenda,” Tatiana Monteiro, president of Movimento União BR, says in the note.
Severe weather events have affected 40 million
Flooded street in Porto Alegre city after rains in 2024 – Bruno Peres / Agência Brasil
The survey estimates that 42.2 million people over the age of 16 have been impacted by severe weather events, of which 10 percent were victims—more than 4 million people.
The events that most frequently impacted the lives of Brazilians were floods, reported by 68 percent of respondents who were affected by climate-related disasters. Storms or heavy rain (7%), landslides (6%), fires or wildfires (5%), dam collapses and droughts, both with two percent, were also mentioned. Others accounted for five percent, and four percent of the respondents did not know or did not respond.
Despite being a reality already affecting millions of people across Brazil, 77 percent of those interviewed said they had never taken any action to protect themselves from the effects of disasters—such as reinforcing the structure of their home, stocking up on food, taking out insurance, or putting together an emergency kit.
The percentage of those who have tried to prepare rises to 42 percent among those who have been affected by a disaster; to 41 percent among those who have been victims and also know other victims; and to 31 percent in the group of people who only have acquaintances who have experienced this type of situation.
The study also shows that half (50%) of Brazilians do not know where to look for information on how to act, including rescue services and safe places to shelter in the event of a tragedy or natural disaster in their own city. Another 48 percent said they knew and two percent either did not know or did not answer.
When asked about the effectiveness of the federal, state, and municipal governments’ actions to prevent tragedies, 42 percent expressed a negative opinion—with 26 percent considering the government’s initiatives to be not very effective, and 16 percent not effective at all. On the other hand, 33 percent said they were somewhat effective, 14 percent said they were effective and seven percent said they were very effective. Another five percent did not know or did not answer.
“The data show that a significant proportion of the population have been affected by natural disasters—which have become increasingly intense—and that there is a lack of preparation for such events. On the other hand, the survey reveals not only a high degree of solidarity among Brazilians, but also a willingness to expand these actions,” Marcelo Tokarski, CEO of Nexus, says in the study.
