Brazil’s Post-Disaster Vote | After months of drought, fire, and flooding, climate change was virtually absent from local elections. Why?

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1. Municipal politics in Brazil deals with day-to-day problems that can be made a lot worse depending on who’s chosen as mayor. Public transport quality and fares, healthcare, pavement, public safety…all of this falls under municipal politics to some extent. The role of the mayor is perceived as too distal. Collective action problems are more difficult to deal with in Brazil.

   But there are other reasons. Brazil’s far right is solid and attracted 60% of voters in a city like São Paulo. Evangelical churches and right-wing Catholics have a strong influence. A large segment of Brazil voters is not that different from Trump’s MAGA base. There is tons of misinformation going on from multiple corners. It is just difficult to convince people that municipal politics matter for climate. And people are afraid of unpopular policies. Bike lanes, for example, can be very politicized in Brazil.

   But as I write this, I wonder if green local politicians outside of Brazil are doing any better…