Figure - available from: Environmental Management
This content is subject to copyright. Terms and conditions apply.
The number of public comments accessed on YouTube, Facebook and Google News with regard to the firefighting cattle by tone (a), and the most common figure illustrating the subject on Twitter (b) *Figure available at https://www.pinterest.ch/pin/400187116859126508/
Source publication
Weakening environmental laws supported by disinformation are currently of concern in Brazil. An example of disinformation is the case of the "firefighter cattle". Supporters of this idea believe that by consuming organic mass, cattle decrease the risk of fire in natural ecosystems. This statement was cited by a member of the Bolsonaro government in...
Citations
... A growing body of literature highlights the unintended negative consequences of algorithmic decision-making and the spread of misinformation. Forti et al. (2023) illustrate how social media platforms can become vehicles for disinformation, particularly concerning environmental issues. They cite cases where platforms like Facebook were used to disseminate misleading claims about deforestation and biodiversity, skewing public understanding and policy discussions. ...
... This false narrative, suggesting that grazing reduces fires by drying grass-drying organisms, has gained significant traction on platforms such as Facebook and Google News. According to Forti et al. (2023), these misleading posts were widely shared and discussed, triggering public engagement that focused on moral sentiments surrounding environmental protection. However, the reality is that livestock activities, particularly intensive grazing, contribute significantly to climate change, as they produce methane and degrade natural resources (Berndt & Tomkins, 2013;Garcia et al., 2021). ...
... However, the reality is that livestock activities, particularly intensive grazing, contribute significantly to climate change, as they produce methane and degrade natural resources (Berndt & Tomkins, 2013;Garcia et al., 2021). Despite the scientific evidence, the widespread belief in these false claims has influenced public opinion and even policy decisions, which have supported the livestock industry's expansion and reduced government funding for firefighting, exacerbating the severity of fires and climate 5 Vol. 1 No. 3 (2024) Critical Humanistic Social Theory change in Brazil (Forti et al., 2023). The role of algorithm-driven platforms in amplifying this disinformation underscores the ethical challenges posed by digital media, where harmful content can spread rapidly and shape public opinion with little regard for accuracy or environmental consequences. ...
This study critically analyzes the dual impact of digital innovation on cultural and creative industries, emphasizing both opportunities and challenges. It investigates how digital media platforms, such as TikTok and the Palace Museum, drive market expansion, enhance cultural sustainability, and democratize information sharing. These innovations foster public engagement and cultural tourism, thereby contributing to economic growth and cultural development. Nevertheless, the study highlights ethical challenges such as misinformation, algorithmic bias, gender inequality, and racial discrimination, which hinder the potential benefits of digital platforms. Using a qualitative methodology that integrates case studies and secondary data analysis, this research identifies mechanisms driving these dual effects and evaluates strategies to mitigate negative consequences. The findings underscore the need for ethical frameworks and governance mechanisms to guide digital innovation toward sustainable development, ensuring alignment with inclusivity and social responsibility.
... Hence, the literature focuses on what Chadwick and Stanyer (13) describe as the attributes and actions of the deceived and the role of beliefs in consequential attitudes and behavior. In particular, the publications we analyzed show that right-wing(35) or radical political ideology(36,37), trust in science(38), beliefs in a conspiracy(39), or inclination towards specific emotional reactions(40,41) can prompt individuals to share or engage with manipulated information about climate change. ...
We present a systematic review of peer-reviewed research into ways to mitigate manipulative information about climate change on social media. Such information may include disinformation, harmful influence campaigns, or the unintentional spread of misleading information. We find that commonly recommended approaches to addressing manipulation about climate change include corrective information sharing and education campaigns targeting media literacy. However, most relevant research fails to test the approaches and interventions it proposes. We locate research gaps that include the lack of attention to large commercial and political entities involved in generating and disseminating manipulation, video- and image-focused platforms, and computational methods to collect and analyze data. Evidence drawn from many studies demonstrates an emerging consensus about policies required to promote reliable knowledge about climate change and resist manipulation.
... The latest and most current topics under scrutiny are associated with strategies for reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, financial instruments for preserving ecosystems, and management and mitigation methods. In this case, the political and economic context plays a key role in Brazil since the period coincides with the dismantling of environmental policies [45,46] that culminated in the increase in the level of deforestation during the government [47,48], as well as the Covid-19 crisis [49], which also guided research development [50]. ...
This paper evaluates how the contribution of scientific publications on climate change from the University of São Paulo (USP) evolved between 1989 and 2022. The study conducted a bibliometric analysis of 2874 research articles collected from the Web of Science and Scopus databases to explore main trend topics and reveal influential journals and collaboration networks using the Bibliometrix software. The study shows an increasing and more significant temporal publication distribution from 2010 onwards. Based on the author’s affiliations, results indicate that the most important partnerships are national (67%), while the international co-authorships are predominantly with research collaborators of the Global North (North America and Europe). Several papers published in the period are in high-impact factor journals, evidence on climate change from USP. Environmental services, Atlantic Forest, Tropical Forest, Amazon, biodiversity, and Land use are the hotspot research topics to which USP researchers contribute. The evolution of three thematic groups was identified: (i) physical science, (ii) causes and effects, and (iii) strategies, discussed in themes such as organic matter, deforestation, and mitigation, respectively. This research is helpful to get insights into the current research development trends, to show the broadness of the scientific production, and the importance of the USP role in the climate change theme. Ultimately, it provides valuable information for further studies and suggests the possibility of advancing the research agenda on climate change with the Global South.
Graphical Abstract
Brazil is facing a concerning scientific crisis as a result of persistent anti-science campaigns, decreasing support
for public universities and pro-environmental policies, exacerbated by investment cuts to scientific agencies.
While recent pro-science policies could mitigate some of this damage, the inherited public distrust in science will
potentially threaten scientific progress for years to come. Since trust in science is influenced by political ideologies,
combating this distrust presents a formidable challenge, demanding a strategy for public engagement and
attenuation of the effects of political polarisation on science and technology. Scientific citizenship is essential to
improve the way society perceives science and implements science-based policies. Funding a federal citizen
science bureau to support participatory initiatives of knowledge production could bring various benefits,
including increased public acceptance of science and environment protection, compliance with international
agreements and UN goals, as well as higher scientific literacy among the public. It could also recover the failing
trust in science, expand support for current and future citizen science initiatives, and improve minorities’ access
to scientific collaboration. In summary, it would provide a way to recover the role of science and thereby support
public policies in Brazil with global benefits.
This article explores how the interaction between national interests, large corporate interests tied to polluting activities, and disinformation collectively influence international climate change policy, with a specific focus on the 2009 Copenhagen Accords. It highlights the complex relationships between politics and corporations in hindering successful climate change resolutions, the polarizing effects of national ideologies on climate change discourse, and the aspirations of developing nations to reach a similar level of economic development as their developed counterparts, often driven by similar national ideologies. These combined factors significantly hindered the effectiveness of the Copenhagen Accords and undermined the potential of subsequent international climate agreements and summits.
The Copenhagen Accords are identified here as a pivotal moment in history when nationalist and corporate forces formed new alliances and sought novel ways to undermine climate resolutions. The denial machine’s ability to hinder cooperative and coordinated efforts between nation-states was de- monstrated through an unprecedented attack on the summit using media and social media platforms to disseminate disinformation and fuel denialism. This event also foreshadowed the role of social media in subsequent political events, such as the 2016 American election and Brexit, where public opinion was heavily influenced.
The article argues that the patterns seen in Copenhagen have since been repeated in various countries, with advancements in information technology combined with deregulation offering disruptive forces more powerful tools, such as bots, spammers, and astroturfers. The research underscores the urgent need to address these challenges to forge a cooperative and coordinated global response to climate change in the Anthropocene.
