Agricultural production systems developed by Indigenous peoples in the Andes respond to mountain ecosystems characterised by high climatic, edaphic, biological and cultural diversity. This study analyses the agronomic and sociocultural practices of the Andean chakra in communities of the Ecuadorian highlands that produce food under the paradigm of “Sumak Kawsay” and the symbolism of the “Chakana”. The research adopted a mixed-methods approach across three phases: territorial characterisation through GIS georeferencing, fieldwork comprising 24 surveys, 16 semi-structured interviews and 3 focus groups in six provinces of the north-central highlands, and data analysis using NVivo 14 and SPSS 30. The results show that the “chakra” constitutes a family-based agricultural and livestock system underpinned by resilient ancestral knowledge and technologies, averaging 25 cultivated species per productive unit. Among the main practices identified are crop association, conservation of native seeds, organic soil management, efficient water use and the application of phytomedicine. These practices strengthen biodiversity and reciprocity between society and nature through the communal work known as the “minka”. Likewise, the great majority of the “chakras” studied are managed mainly by women, who ensure food sovereignty, the transmission of knowledge and the conservation of agrobiodiversity. It is concluded that the Andean “chakra” is a current and adaptive strategy of sustainable agriculture, whose preservation requires intercultural public policies, recognition of women’s work, and longitudinal and comparative lines of research across the Andes.
The intensification of environmental degradation has raised systemic concerns in contemporary society regarding sustainability, considering both ecological and social dimensions. This study aimed to identify the different perceptions and practices of conscious consumption and circular economy among high school students, considering financial comfort and institutional context (public and private schools). The methodology consisted of a survey with 238 questionnaires analysed using analysis of variance (Anova) and goodness-of-fit tests. The results reveal that perceptions of circularity and sustainable practices are not uniform and are linked to students' material security. Students from private schools demonstrate greater openness to collaborative consumption, while students from public schools show a greater perception of risk (hygiene and damage) in relation to reuse. The data support educational managers in developing differentiated environmental education strategies that consider the subjective barriers of each social stratum.
This article investigates how science and scientific and technical brokers shaped the formation of Brazil’s climate agenda between 1999 and 2009. Drawing on Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework, it analyses how science was mobilised across the problem, policy, and politics streams. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach based on the coding of minutes and reports from the Interministerial Commission on Global Climate Change (CIMGC), within the executive branch, and the Joint Committee on Climate Change (CMMC), within the legislature. Findings show that the CIMGC operated in a fragmented manner, centred on executive-branch specialists, with predominantly conceptual and symbolic uses of science and moderate scientific influence. By contrast, the CMMC functioned as a more pluralistic arena, mobilising mixed uses of science and strengthening its influence by linking technical diagnoses to politically recognised problems and viable policy alternatives. Institutional arrangements shaped both the legitimacy of science and its circulation across decision streams.
The composition and functioning of Water Resources State Councils (CRHED) should reflect the decentralised and participatory aspects of the Brazilian national water resources policy. The absence of a national database on the CRHED, however, hinders social scrutiny and consideration of the current characteristics of the Brazilian Water Resources Management System - SINGREH. This study examined stakeholder participation in 27 CRHEDs, identifying the prevalence of the public sector (44%) over water resource users (21%) and civil society organisations (26%). It also examined gender information, the number of meetings, and the approval of deliberations throughout 2024, pointing to an underrepresentation of women (28%) and an uneven level of functioning among federal states. The importance of producing data on a regular basis is highlighted, allowing the monitoring of the CRHED in relation to their effectiveness and adherence to the principles and foundations of water policy in Brazil.
The expansion of irrigation projects in the Brazilian semi-arid region, supported by water abstraction from the São Francisco River, has led to initiatives such as the Jacaré Curituba Settlement Project (PAJC) in Sergipe. Established on soils vulnerable to salinisation and sodification and developed without adequate technical support, the PAJC encountered significant challenges that compromised agricultural productivity. Although the signs of salinisation identified in 2014 had largely been mitigated by 2022, areas exhibiting salt and sodium imbalances remain. The most recent survey also revealed substantial changes in the concentration of soil nutrients, particularly available phosphorus, with increases of up to 587%, thereby highlighting persistent nutritional imbalances. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) was classified as moderate at several sampling locations. Consequently, there is an urgent need for public policies and technical assistance tailored to local conditions to ensure the long-term sustainability of agricultural production in irrigated areas of the Brazilian semi-arid region.
The study analyses public perception of the relationship between meat production and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. A structured questionnaire was administered to 314 respondents, and data were analysed using exploratory factor analysis and cluster analysis, which identified three distinct groups. The findings indicate widespread recognition of the economic importance of meat production, especially in Group 1, but divergent views on its relationship with deforestation. Group 2 showed greater environmental awareness, rejecting meat associated with deforestation and recognising livestock farming as a relevant cause of environmental degradation. Group 3, with lower purchasing power, was more willing to consume products from deforested areas, possibly due to economic constraints. Although Brazil has relatively robust environmental legislation, respondents perceived it as ineffective because of a lack of enforcement. Findings suggest that education, income, and access to information contribute to shaping environmental perceptions and consumer behaviour.
This article examines whether the management plans of federal coastal protected areas in the state of Amapá, Brazil, are aligned with environmental policy guidelines in the context of offshore oil exploration in the Equatorial Margin. Using a qualitative documentary analysis guided by the analytical dimensions of environmental justice (procedural, distributive, epistemic, and differential exposure to risk), the study evaluated management plans as preventive instruments of environmental governance by examining participatory mechanisms, recognition of traditional knowledge, distribution of risks and benefits, and references to vulnerable groups. The licensing process of block FZA-M-59 was analysed to assess the articulation between territorial planning and environmental licensing. The results indicate that, although management plans recognise ecological integrity and sociocultural presence, the incorporation of environmental justice dimensions remains fragmented and weakly integrated with licensing processes. This disconnect limits the anticipatory capacity of protected area governance in contexts of high ecological sensitivity and socioenvironmental vulnerability.
This article examines how International Relations theories explain the decision-making of Latin American states regarding nuclear proliferation and energy within the dual context of climate change and enduring global nuclear arsenals. Employing a qualitative documentary analysis, the study identifies analytical categories across realist, constructivist, and liberal frameworks to evaluate state behaviour. The results demonstrate that, unlike traditional realist reliance on nuclear deterrence, Latin America has successfully utilised institutional liberalism and cooperation, as institutionalised by the Treaty of Tlatelolco. This regional approach prioritises non-proliferation, multilateral regimes, and international law to mitigate security dilemmas and advance peaceful nuclear energy. Ultimately, the research concludes that the Latin American experience offers a vital paradigm; it proves that states can redefine power by prioritising regional peace, legal legitimacy, and sustainable energy development over nuclear armament, thereby providing a viable model for addressing interconnected global climate and nuclear threats.
The application of public policies to promote Distributed Generation (DG) in Brazil is an example of the diffusion of clean energy; however, this growth is concentrated in certain consumer profiles. This study evaluates the economic feasibility of small residential Photovoltaic Distributed Generation (PVDG) systems and proposes a regulatory adjustment to make them viable. The economic feasibility was assessed by simulating Net Present Value (NPV) and payback indicators for small residential systems across 51 Brazilian distribution utilities, using open data from the Brazilian National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel). The results show that small residential systems, especially those serving consumers with 80–170 kWh/month, have the least favourable economic performance under the current rules. To address this imbalance, the study proposes creating a new subgroup (DG-II-0) for systems up to 1.5 kW that are exempt from the availability cost. Simulations indicate that this change would improve the NPV and Payback period, making distributed generation more attractive to low-income families. The proposed adjustment aligns with Brazil’s goal of eradicating energy poverty and with international commitments to a fair and inclusive energy transition.
The objective of this study was to develop and apply an evidence-based Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Adherence Index to evaluate Municipal Solid Waste Management Plans across 34 municipalities in Goiás, Brazil. The methodology combines literature review, expert-based weightingusing the Rank Order Centroid (ROC) method, and a structured assessment of the evidence type (declarative, operational, and measurable). The results reveal substantial heterogeneity, with only 41%of the municipalities presenting adherence greater than 50%. Although the operational dimensionsshow higher adherence, the plans incorporate elements related to social integration and monitoring to a more limited extent. The findings highlight a structural mismatch between normative priorities and municipal planning capacity, indicating that compliance with Brazil’s National Solid Waste Policy is necessary but insufficient for advancing the 2030 Agenda. High adherence scores are often driven by declarative elements rather than implementation-oriented evidence. The study contributes a replicableframework for evaluating policy instruments based on evidence quality, offering insights for improvingmunicipal planning and supporting more effective sustainability governance.
Este artigo analisa a reação da atenção pública no Brasil às inundações ocorridas no Rio Grande do Sul em 2024, com foco no problema da mudança do clima, investigando se esse comportamento segue o “Ciclo de Atenção” proposto por Downs (1972). A pesquisa focou o termo “mudanças climáticas” no website da Folha de S. Paulo para avaliar o volume de reportagens publicadas 3 meses antes e 6 meses depois do evento. Os dados revelam um aumento expressivo na cobertura jornalística sobre mudanças climáticas logo após as inundações, sugerindo maior interesse da população pelo tema. No entanto, cerca de 30 dias após o evento, observou-se uma queda acentuada na quantidade de notícias. Esses resultados indicam que a atenção pública é breve e volátil, limitando o tempo disponível para intervenção por parte de formuladores de políticas públicas, entre outros, em propor soluções durante uma possível “janela de oportunidades” gerada por eventos extremos.
This study investigates the occurrence of extreme weather events in municipalities of the Western mesoregion of Paraná, Brazil, between 2012 and 2024, using records from the State Civil Defence database. The adopted methodology involved multivariate statistical analysis using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), applied to data categorised into five event types: flash floods, flooding, heavy rainfall, gales, and hail. The results revealed distinct spatial patterns of municipal vulnerability, allowing the identification of groups of municipalities more prone to specific types of events. The proposed approach contributes to territorial planning and the formulation of public policies aimed at risk management and climate change adaptation.
O território do Médio Juruá possui uma alta governança promovida pelas comunidades extrativistas. Entretanto, a mudança climática tem tornado as adaptações dos sistemas socioecológicos ribeirinhos insuficientes diante das transformações dos ritmos físicos climáticos da região. Nesse sentido, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar alterações climáticas de temperatura e dos desastres fluviais, suas implicações socioambientais e os ajustes adaptativos às comunidades extrativistas do Médio Juruá. Para tanto, a pesquisa contou com análise estatística dos dados físicos climáticos e entrevistas semiestruturadas com atores sociais de comunidades tradicionais ribeirinhas da região. Os dados demonstram que a mudança climática já gera impactos na região. As comunidades extrativistas sentem o aumento do calor excessivo, precipitação e de eventos extremos fluviais que já alteram a dinâmica de trabalho e da vida nas comunidades. As comunidades já respondem com uma série de ajustes adaptativos autônomos, enquanto as estratégias governamentais só são vinculadas a apoio emergencial. As comunidades tradicionais extrativistas necessitam de políticas e programas de adaptações robustos que possam aumentar a resiliência de seus sistemas socioecológicos.
Em um contexto de crescente necessidade de sistemas alimentares sustentáveis, este estudo investigou fatores psicossociais das escolhas alimentares de universitários brasileiros, utilizando o Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ) ampliado com a dimensão “preocupação com os animais”. A amostra foi de 1.582 estudantes. Quatro grupos alimentares (onívoros, flexitarianos, vegetarianos e veganos) foram comparados por ANOVA e testes post hoc de Tukey. Os resultados indicaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas em todas as dimensões avaliadas. Saúde, conveniência e apelo sensorial tiveram médias elevadas. Aspectos éticos e bem-estar animal foram mais valorizados por vegetarianos e veganos. A preocupação animal demonstrou ser a dimensão de maior magnitude na diferenciação entre os grupos, com escores progressivamente mais altos de onívoros a veganos. Onívoros atribuíram menor importância à ética e à preocupação animal. Os achados contribuem para a compreensão das motivações alimentares em contextos de transição alimentar e apontam caminhos para escolhas mais sustentáveis entre universitários.
Este estudo analisa a vulnerabilidade socioambiental em Araruama, município da Região Hidrográfica Lagos São João, no Rio de Janeiro, com histórico de desastres hidrometeorológicos e elevado número de pessoas desabrigadas. A partir de dados do Censo 2010 integrados à mancha de suscetibilidade à inundação do SGB e registros de inundações oficiais e midiáticos, foram elaborados mapas temáticos em ambiente SIG e cruzados com registros oficiais e midiáticos de inundações entre 2009 e 2023. Foram identificados 24 bairros atingidos. Os resultados da espacialização da exposição, junto com a vulnerabilidade social, permitem identificar a localização da população mais atingida. A proximidade a corpos de água foi comum entre os setores mais críticos. Áreas de vulnerabilidade socioambiental extrema localizam-se próximas a um rio e apresentam baixa capacidade de resposta. O estudo ressalta a necessidade de adotar sistemas de monitoramento e previsão, e políticas públicas direcionadas para adaptação dos bairros mais atingidos.
This paper analyzes the relationship between electrification, sustainable development, and emerging urban structures in small villages of the western Brazilian Amazon. These communities, usually with one to five thousand inhabitants, present an early stage of urban consolidation that depends on reliable infrastructure to sustain wellbeing and socio environmental resilience. Using the concept of embryonic urbanity and the Social Progress Index as analytical references, the study evaluates how electricity access influences education, health, economic activity, and community organization. A case study of Caiambé, in the municipality of Tefé - western Brazilian Amazon, investigates the transition from a diesel-based power plant to a hybrid solar and battery system. Field observations and municipal indicators show that hybridization reduces fuel consumption, increases energy security, and strengthens SDG7 objectives. The results support low carbon strategies for isolated systems and offer guidance for improving the Luz para Todos with decarbonization program.
