Ciência E Processo Decisório: A Influência Dos Experts No Licenciamento Ambiental De Um Empreendimento Petrolífero No Litoral Paulista

Abstract

O papel e a influência dos experts no processo político ainda é um debate em aberto na literatura, sendo ainda pouco estudado nos casos de licenciamento ambiental. Esse artigo analisa a atuação e a influência dos experts mobilizados por diferentes atores em arenas do licenciamento ligadas a empreendimentos tecnológicos. O artigo foca o Projeto Mexilhão da Petrobras, que foi instalado no Litoral Norte do Estado de São Paulo e no Vale do Paraíba para extração de petróleo e gás. O artigo identifica e analisa três fatores principais que condicionaram a influência dos experts no licenciamento ambiental: i) limites no poder de decisão na arena do de licenciamento; ii) assimetria de informação e expertise entre atores; iii) interpretações divergentes entre os experts. O trabalho argumenta em favor de abordagens multiatores e multiníveis do processo decisório, como proporcionadas pelo conceito de arena, para compreendera atuação e influência dos experts na política ambiental.

The anti-dam movement in Brazil: expertise and design conflicts in an industrial transition movement

“…Moreover, the asymmetry of expertise can also go beyond qualitative differences over the inclusion of knowledge about broad social and economic effects. The extent of technical expertise tends to be unevenly distributed, with industry controlling much of the technical expertise (Viglio, Monteiro, and Ferreira 2018). Although it is possible for community groups and social movement organizations to find independent experts from universities, the university-based researchers most knowledgeable about the technical dimensions of the planned projects often have ties to industry and think about the issues from an industry perspective (Viglio, Monteiro, and Ferreira 2018).…”

“…The extent of technical expertise tends to be unevenly distributed, with industry controlling much of the technical expertise (Viglio, Monteiro, and Ferreira 2018). Although it is possible for community groups and social movement organizations to find independent experts from universities, the university-based researchers most knowledgeable about the technical dimensions of the planned projects often have ties to industry and think about the issues from an industry perspective (Viglio, Monteiro, and Ferreira 2018). Likewise, government-based experts may disagree, and disagreements among experts may help to create conditions for government inaction (Viglio, Monteiro, and Ferreira 2018).…”

“…As Zhouri commented, "Often decisions were already made and agreements were already established between the local power and the consortia" (2008). In general, decisions tend to be made outside the environmental impact process, and government organizations such as IBAMA are under pressure not to deny permits (Viglio, Monteiro, and Ferreira 2018). One of the most prominent examples is the interference in the process for the Belo Monte project.…”

“…Where the assessment process results in the denial of a license, federal government leaders may override the negative licensing decision and also influence the judicial system to reverse lowerlevel court rulings that favored the anti-dam coalitions. Moreover, the decision to build a dam may be done prior to and outside the EIA process (Viglio, Monteiro, and Ferreira 2018).…”