Socio-environmental assessment of the Santos and São Vicente municipalities on the coast of São Paulo/Brazil: application of social network analysis to the DPSIR conceptual framework

Considering the social, economic, and ecological complexity of coastal regions and the difficulty of public and private environmental management in these highly populated areas with multiple sources of pollution, this study used the driver, pressure, state, impact, and response model to socio-environmentally assess the coastal municipalities of Santos and São Vicente in the Baixada Santista metropolitan region, SP-Brazil. Data were evaluated by social network analysis. Results indicated the most relevant drivers (i.e., those that most affected sustainability and environmental governance) within the municipalities of Santos and São Vicente, such as port activities (represented by the pressure due to the emission of contaminants in the air and water and dredging). Poor air quality due to pollution and its impacts on human health stand out as an element in the state factor. The most forceful responses refer to the increase in the inspection and control of atmospheric emissions, liquid effluents, dredging, and solid waste. Our approach will support decision-makers to focus on the most critical aspects in this study to implement corrective and preventive actions and develop environmental and sectoral public policies. Versão publicada na Revista Processando o Saber:https://www.fatecpg.edu.br/revista/index.php/ps/article/view/401