In the article “Democratizing Brazil’s Foreign Policy, Social Participation, and Climate: How Are They Connected?”, published by the magazine Diálogos Soberania e Clima, Plataforma CIPÓ’s Project Coordinator Marília Closs analyzes the challenges and pathways for expanding civil society participation in shaping Brazil’s foreign policy, with a focus on the climate agenda.
The article is grounded in the understanding that foreign policy is also a public policy — and as such, it should be subject to mechanisms of social participation. Closs provides an overview of the evolution of Brazilian foreign policy, highlighting its distributive nature and the growing diversity of actors involved in recent years, including ministries, parliamentarians, subnational governments, and civil society organizations.
The author notes that, although Brazil is considered a global reference in social participation, significant gaps remain in integrating civil society into discussions around climate foreign policy. Today, participation is often sporadic and limited to high-profile events such as international summits, frequently lacking institutional continuity as well as adequate technical and financial support.
Among the recommendations presented in the article are the creation of a National Council on Foreign Policy (CONPEB) ahead of COP30, which will be held in Belém in November 2025, and the implementation of permanent mechanisms for capacity-building, transparency, and accountability to strengthen civil society engagement in international forums. Closs also advocates for deeper coordination with multilateral bodies such as the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO).
With a PhD in Political Science from IESP-UERJ and expertise in international relations and Brazilian foreign policy, Marília Closs emphasizes that democratizing foreign policy is essential for ensuring that Brazil’s actions in the face of the climate emergency are more legitimate, effective, and aligned with the interests of its population.
