A desinformação climática e seus impactos na democracia ambiental

Abstract

The object of this research is the process of active and coordinated production of false information distributed systematically to the general public, by members of public administration and transnational companies, about the state of the environment and climate change. Environmental and climate disinformation is not a new phenomenon, but it takes on viral forms in the age of social networks, with its dissemination and boosting through the internet. Thus, the research problem is to answer what are the impacts of environmental and climate disinformation political campaigns for the realization of environmental democracy and for the preservation of the environment, especially at the national level. The hypothesis is that the dissemination of environmental and climate disinformation has impacts and consequences on the quality of environmental democracy and on environmental preservation itself. This is because the effective participation of the public in the debate and creation of public policies for environmental protection depends essentially on the information obtained about the state of the environment and the climate system. To verify the hypothesis and answer the research problem, the qualitative approach is used, from a critical and transdisciplinary perspective, in addition to the hypothetical-deductive method. It is noteworthy that this research proposes interlocutions with various branches of law, such as Environmental Law, Digital Law, Administrative Law, Climate Change Law and International Law, as well as with different areas of knowledge, such as communication, psychology and political science. The work is consistent with the themes brought to light by the Research Line "Society, New Rights and Transnationalization", of the Graduate Program in Public Law of the University of Sinos River Valley, which focuses on the study of new rights, impacts of globalization and diffuse and collective rights, from a transdisciplinary perspective. The results confirm, from a broad and deep study on environmental and climate disinformation and its functions, that these act on the formation of an environmental awareness by the individual, not allowing it to develop. Disinformation generates confusion, public mistrust and uncertainty, being able to modify even established beliefs and affecting individuals from all social strata and educational levels. Its objective is precisely to make impossible the realization of a true Environmental Democracy and the implementation of policies that regulate the emission of greenhouse gases and other activities harmful to the environment. This ensures the perpetuation of a closed democracy, consistent with decision-making processes entirely submitted to neoliberal interests, in the service of a highly selective economic wealth. The work proposes solutions that should be implemented jointly for the effective combat of disinformation: the transition to an alternative economic model; the adoption of legislation that combats disinformation in social networks; the accountability of public agents for the dissemination of disinformation through the environmental administrative imrpobity doctrine; and, an effective environmental and climate education policy combined with digital education.