The attempted coup on Sunday, January 8th, in Brasilia caused alarm and concern not just in Brazil, but throughout the entire region. There were demonstrations of support from different organizations and institutions from all over Latin America and the world, given the severe blow to the democratic system of one of the Global South’s largest countries.
Brazil has enormous influence on the economic and sociopolitical climate of Latin America. Protecting democracy in Brazil is therefore crucial in enabling stability in the region.
Climate change governance and policies are best implemented within democratic systems. Governments that respect both institutions and the planet have the political will to carry out effective climate policies. It’s no coincidence that the theories and convictions of those who perpetrated the attempted coup affirm “they do not believe in climate change”, and promote environmental catastrophe by supporting policies such as deforestation in the Amazon, illegal mining, and fossil fuel extraction in disappearing ecosystems.
The Esplanada dos Ministérios, in Brasilia, where the seat of the Brazilian federal government is located: protecting democracy in Brazil is vital for stability in Latin America and for the global climate. Credit: Thandy Yung/Unsplash
Democracy is the only system where civil society fully acts to influence public policy. As we know, Indigenous peoples, traditional communities and environmental activists have long been leading the fight for an end to deforestation and for the acceleration of the energy transition.
Protecting democracy in Brazil, and consequently the space for society to express itself, is essential if we are to have a chance of solving the climate crisis, one of the greatest challenges humanity has ever faced.
350.org is a global NGO that works tirelessly to combat climate change and to galvanise the shift away from fossil fuels and towards a clean energy transition. We will continue to support the fight for democracy, social justice and climate action in Latin America.