ID: 2111
Presenting Author: Thomaz Xavier
Session: 639 - Contested Narratives: Misinformation, Mobilisation and Impact Assessment
Status: pending
Misinformation improves contested narratives and local resistance in renewable energy projects in Brazil, undermining trust and hindering public participation in impact assessments.
Renewable energy development is seen as a promise of sustainable futures, but it often faces contested narratives and community pushback, particularly when misinformation spreads. This study investigates three renewable energy projects in Northeast Brazil—an offshore wind farm planned, an onshore wind farm (both in Ceará state), and a large solar plant (in Piauí state)—to examine how misinformation influences social impact assessments and local responses. Using open-ended interviews with coastal and rural residents and an innovative qualitative approach combining digital ethnography, discourse analysis, and participatory mapping, the research explores community perceptions and information flows. A preliminary review of the literature reveals growing distrust in institutions and widespread confusion about project impacts and community rights. These early findings suggest that misinformation, compounded by procedural injustice, amplifies contested project narratives, spurring local mobilization and resistance. The study aims to contribute to the broader debate on enhancing public participation and trust in impact assessment processes. It also offers insights into social media's role in shaping community engagement.
Postdoctoral researcher at USP in environmental and social impact assessment and offshore wind energy. PhD in Geography (UFC). Expert in participatory mapping and stakeholder engagement.
Coauthor 1: Felipe Sousa
Coauthor 2: Joyce Celestino
Coauthor 3: Andre Simões