Social participation in the environmental sphere: the case of the Municipal Environmental Defense Council of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Although councils are built on the pillars of representative democracy and legally have the function of bringing civil society and governmental spheres closer to decision-making, the practical transposition of these assumptions needs verification. This article aimed to analyze participation carried out in the Municipal Council for the Defense of the Environment (COMDEMA) of Ribeirão Preto, SP, concerning the proposal theorized for councils and the determinations provided by law. To this end, a documental analysis of the minutes of ordinary meetings of COMDEMA (2016-2020) was carried out, considering the perspectives of the composition of the board, the participation of members, and the nature of the agendas. Concerning the composition of the board, with the exception of two vacancies, all the chairs of entities provided for in the Internal Regulations were filled; in terms of attendance, 12.8% of meetings were canceled due to lack of quorum. The interventions of the councilors in meetings are carried out more frequently by specific representatives, which can be attributed to the formation of parallel Technical Chambers for previous discussion of matters that will be taken to ordinary meetings. Thus, by the performed analyzes, it can be observed that COMDEMA operates in line with the provisions set forth in law and presents the involvement of its members.

Keywords
environnement; participative management; social participation; COMDEMA