An institutional interplay perspective to multi-level environmental governance: the case of offshore oil governance in Gulf of Mexico and Santos Basin (OFFOCEANS)

• Grant number: 19/23467-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2020
• End date: February 28, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Agreement: Texas A&M University
• Mobility Program: SPRINT - Projetos de pesquisa - Mobilidade
• Principal Investigator: Pedro Roberto Jacobi
• Grantee: Pedro Roberto Jacobi
• Principal researcher abroad: Elizabeth Nyman
• Institution abroad: Texas A&M University, United States
• Host Institution: Instituto de Energia e Ambiente (IEE). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Ashley Dyan Ross-Wootton ; Celio Bermann ; Jenna A Lamphere ; Leandra Regina Gonçalves Torres
• Associated research grant: 15/03804-9 - Environmental governance of macrometropolis paulista in face of climate variability, AP.PFPMCG.TEM

Abstract

Today, among many complex exploratory situations in the world, Santos Basin Pre-salt and the Gulf of Mexico, are a representative example of technological and governance challenges. Although there is a complete literature about the expansion of offshore in Brazil, it is still incipient in the debate about the environmental governance aspects related to the offshore activities. A partnership between these two institutions is relevant to explore if there is a multi-level governance (i.e., decision- and policy-making that involve multiple actors and take place across multiple jurisdictions and sectors) in place to deal with the multidimensional nature of pressing environmental issues that comes with the expansion of offshore oil. This is because these issues manifest at multiple levels, from local to global, and need to be addressed accordingly. However, multi-level governance is very often challenging given the complex institutional environment (e.g., rules, norms, decision-making processes and network of actors) in which it is implemented. (AU)