Brazilians demand climate proposals from 2026 election candidates

A survey conducted by Ipsos for the Observatório do Clima reveals that 91% of Brazilians believe it is important for candidates in the 2026 elections to present proposals to address climate change. Most respondents (87%) recognize that climate change is causing droughts, intense rainfall, and heatwaves, with 85% stating these extreme weather events affect their daily lives.

Despite the high level of concern regarding the environment, climate change ranks lower than other immediate social issues in the public consciousness. The primary concerns for Brazilians are public security (49%), the cost of living and inflation (41%), violence against women (36%), and the quality of public health (34%).

Among specific environmental issues, climate change is the most cited at 35%, followed by waste management (21%) and air pollution (15%). The data also indicates a lack of awareness regarding specific causes of emissions, as many respondents incorrectly attribute methane emissions to landfills and fossil fuels rather than livestock.