Memorias climáticas e envelhecimento: percepções de idosos sobre as mudanças ambientais.

Abstract

This research analyzes the social representations and collective memories of elderly individuals regarding climate change and its impacts on quality of life in the Pontal region of the Triângulo Mineiro. It is a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive study based on semi-structured interviews conducted in the first half of 2026 with six elderly patients from a hemodialysis center. The theoretical-methodological framework integrated Maurice Halbwachs' concepts of memory, the Theory of Social Representations, and a decolonial perspective. Content analysis revealed that local transformations—caused by sugarcane expansion, deforestation of the Cerrado, river sedimentation, and burning—are empirically perceived by the subjects through their bodies, daily lives, and respiratory health issues. A subjective dilemma also emerged regarding the tension between ecological damage and dependence on regional economic progress. The study concludes that bringing these marginalized life stories to light exposes the inadequacy of protective public policies and underscores the urgent need for inclusive socio-environmental reparation strategies.