Research indicates that brazilian women are more concerned about the climate crisis than men, even with less scientific knowledge about the subject

The data was analyzed by a volunteer from EmpoderaClima, through a research ordered by the Institute of Technology and Society (ITS) in partnership with Yale University’s Climate Change Program

Brazilian women are more concerned and engaged with solutions regarding climate change, even if their level of scientific knowledge is lesser than the men’s. That’s what is indicated by a data analysis ordered by the Institute of Technology and Society (ITS), in partnership with Yale University’s Climate Change Program, the results of which were interpreted by Andreza Conceição, 24, project assistant for the initiative EmpoderaClima.

The volunteer received a grant from ITS and pored over the numbers for three months, accompanied by Pedro Godoi, graphic designer and also a volunteer in the climate justice and gender-focused initiative. According to Andreza, graduated in Economics at the University of São Paulo (USP), the socialization of men and women is one of the explanations for this difference on the level of concern and engagement with environmental issues, since both groups are encouraged in different ways to study science: men with a less ecological and exploratory education; women with a more empathetic and selfless bias.

“Another very important insight is that people who are more proactive are the most concerned with the climate. In other words, it’s because I care more that I will engage for the sake of the environment. And, by socialization of gender, women are the most concerned, because they have a greater risk perception and they care more with the collective”, summarizes Andreza.

The economist researched the numbers from June to August 2022, and took classes and mentorship to help understand the data from the questionnaire. Among over 100 applications from all over Brazil, five were selected by the ITS. Andreza shares that she chose to look at the data from a broader perspective in order to be on the same page as similar research done in the US, since the questionnaire used in Brazil is adapted from a very similar one applied on US territory. “There’s a whole discussion about climate change, but there’s very little research - not to say none - which focus specifically on Brazil. In our country, there’s a gender gap in climate education. More and more, we need to democratize climate education”, she stresses.

Beyond gender, the research indicates that the young and less educated people showcase a greater level of knowledge about global warming. According to Andreza, this suggests two things: climate education is more appealing to the youth, and does so through alternative ways opposed to formal education (school, university etc.). For example: online courses, social media etc. Next, race/ethnicity doesn’t seem to be a relevant factor to determine the level of scientific knowledge, but political ideology does: people more aligned with the left party are better informed about climate change.

Finally, the economist points out that scientific knowledge about climate change doesn’t influence pro-environment actions. “What matters is the risk perception, the empathy, the concern”, concludes Andreza. The research is available as a scientific paper in the following link: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4182844.

Chart - Main data analyzed in the research

Source: Institute of Technology and Society, 2021

About EmpoderaClima

EmpoderaClima is a Brazil-based, global South-focused multilingual initiative, which fights for climate justice with a gender and youth lens. Founded in 2019 by Porto Alegre native Renata Koch Alvarenga, the organization has over twenty volunteers all around the world, divided among researchers, translators, comms team, national mobilization and engaging, building network and advocating to promote youth empowerment, specially young women, to increase the active participation of the groups most affected by climate change in key decision-making spaces, like the climate negotiations.  

In over three years of existence, EmpoderaClima has attended several COPs, organizing pioneers events about young women leadership in the climate crisis, and has partnered with the Malala Fund, Global Landscapes Forum, Latinas for Climate and the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI). For more information about EmpoderaClima’s work, you can visit their website: https://www.empoderaclima.org/.