Beyond the Canopy: Mapping Actor Networks for Climate, Biodiversity and Forests in Brazil

In the wake of the looming threat of climate change, environmental concerns are assuming greater significance in global political discourse. With the world's second-largest forest cover, Brazil has been a key player in recent environmental negotiations, addressing critical issues such as forests, biodiversity and climate change. However, the attention accorded to each of these issues, represented by the level of international effort allocated to the matters, varies based on their relevance to the national agenda, intricately shaped by economic interests and issue salience. Similarly, multiple actors choose to engage in these issues whenever this aligns with their distinct interests. Such actors form intricate political networks characterized by diverse complexities which operate under unique power dynamics. Against this background, this study aims to meticulously chart the evolution of (domestic) actor networks pertaining to climate change, biodiversity, and forests. By identifying shifting power dynamics, evolving coalitions, and the salience of the issues over time, we illuminate the intricate relationships that define these networks. To ascertain the temporal salience of the issues, we utilize Google Trends data for the period of 2004-2023. Data for the assembling of the political networks originates from official documents and expert interviews. Our findings reveal a mounting emphasis on climate change, reflected in both increased salience and the heightened complexity of its associated actor network. In contrast, there has been comparatively less focus on forests and biodiversity, resulting in less intricate actor networks associated with these issues. While the networks delineated in this study are specific to Brazil, the underlying dynamics governing their evolution are applicable to countries worldwide.