"Social Policies and the Fight Against Climate Change Through Cooperation Among Global South Countries During the Bolsonaro and Lula III Administrations"

• Grant number: 25/12596-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Political Science - International Politics
• Principal Investigator: Osmany Porto de Oliveira
• Grantee: Bárbara Alves de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Osasco. Osasco , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This article observes the similarities and differences between the environmental foreign policies of the Jair Bolsonaro administration (2019-2022) and the third term of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (beginning in 2023), with a focus on South-South cooperation and the fight against climate change. The research is based on the observation that, despite operating within the same institutional and geographic context, the two governments adopted contrasting approaches to the environmental agenda. While the Bolsonaro government was characterized by the dismantling of environmental institutions, the weakening of multilateral foreign policy, and alignment with developed countries to the detriment of South-South integration, Lula's current administration seeks to rebuild Brazilian environmental diplomacy by renewing international commitments and strengthening dialogue with developing nations. The methodology combines the Most Similar Systems Design (MSSD) with process tracing, allowing for the comparison of structurally similar political contexts that produced divergent outcomes. The study also includes a documentary and bibliographic data survey and maps actions in international forums such as BRICS and the G20. Expected outcomes include the creation of a database, reports, and science communication products that contribute to academic discussions on foreign policy, South-South cooperation, and climate change, ultimately supporting the development of more effective and sustainable public policies in Brazil. (AU)