SOCIAL PARTICIPATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE: AN ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION PRIORITIES REGARDING CLIMATE CHANGE IN RIO GRANDE DO SUL

Abstract

Given the intensification of extreme climate events, understanding how social participation contributes to the definition of public priorities related to environmental issues has become increasingly relevant. In this context, the COREDEs Popular Consultation represents a social participation mechanism that makes it possible to analyze regional demands and their relationship with socio-environmental challenges. This study aimed to analyze the proposals approved through the COREDEs Popular Consultation in Rio Grande do Sul between 2022 and 2025, identifying the extent to which they address actions related to climate change mitigation, adaptation, or response. The research is descriptive, with a qualitative approach and documentary analysis of official voting results, comparing the contexts before and after the 2024 floods. The results indicate that, before the floods, regional demands focused mainly on infrastructure, support for agricultural production, and community improvements, with fewer proposals directly related to climate issues. After the 2024 floods, a greater presence of actions focused on Civil Defense, water storage, climate monitoring, and risk prevention was observed. It is concluded that the proposals approved through the Popular Consultation reflect changes in the composition of regional priorities following the 2024 floods, highlighting demands related to the prevention and management of climate and environmental risks.