Climate Policy and Politics in the Democratic South - Seminar recap
On May 16th, 2025, the OHPA hosted a seminar with Dr. Eduardo Viola from the Institute of Advanced Studies, University of São Paulo. In his talk “Climate Policy and Politics in the Democratic South,” Dr. Viola examined the evolving role of Brazil in global climate governance, offering a detailed political analysis of how democracy, economic development, and climate action intersect in the Global South.
Drawing on decades of research in environmental politics, Dr. Viola proposed a revised classification of countries that moves beyond the Global North/South binary, combining political regime type with income level. Focusing on Brazil as a key case in the “Democratic South,” he traced the trajectory of its climate policy—highlighting major gains in the 2000s, especially reductions in deforestation under President Lula, followed by setbacks under Jair Bolsonaro’s administration, which weakened environmental institutions and encouraged deforestation.
He also discussed Brazil’s current contradictions: while aiming to reclaim a leadership role in climate diplomacy, it continues to expand oil production and faces strong resistance from agribusiness and organized crime in environmental governance. The seminar addressed Brazil’s geopolitical balancing act between the West and China, its preparation for hosting COP30, and the complexities of implementing climate policy amid economic and political constraints.
The full talk as well as the subsequent discussion is available to view on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/m8P_rTlVMvk