The  project and resulting study is the result of an introductory research on the problem of climate change in Portugal. Being an introductory one, it assumes a propositional and mapping character in order to ask questions that, due to their pertinence, can help to understand the problem of climate change in its social and political aspects, on the one hand, and to serve as a cognitive support for those responsible by the conduct of public policy, on the other. In this sense, and beyond a brief problematization of the question, it was our objective to introduce two fundamental lines of analysis that shape and establish the relationship between a sociological view and a set of agents and social and political institutions that are directly related to the problem , in Portugal.

The first way of analysis corresponds to the problematization of public policies for climate change in Portugal and proposes a model of analysis that can be applied empirically. It should be emphasized here the dynamic and intervening nature of this approach, which presupposes an in-depth follow-up of the process. At the same time, and if we understand the political phenomenon as an exercise of citizenship and social participation, it becomes clear that its analysis requires a variety of disciplinary contributions that we can not represent in this context. What is wanted, therefore, is to present a model that indicates what the main contributions and which guidelines can be activated in order to produce relevant cognitive material.

The second way of analysis is directly linked to the first with respect to the necessary relationship between science, communication and politics. In other words, we assume that the relationship between science and politics is central to contemporary societies, and that it can only be established through a communicative project. In this sense, and materializing one of the possible dimensions of analysis in science and communication studies, we developed and applied a questionnaire survey to the Portuguese population, through which answers are sought for the degree and type of knowledge that the Portuguese possess about the phenomenon climate change.

Associated Publications:

“Representações Sociais sobre Clima e Alterações Climáticas”

“As Alterações Climáticas no Quotidiano – Estudo Comportamental de Curta Duração“