Environmental Social Work

Abstract

There is growing recognition amongst social work researchers and practitioners of the significance of the physical environment to the health and well-being of people and communities. Traditionally social workers have placed significant attention on the ‘person-in-environment’ concept, a concept that has related largely to the social world ignoring the interaction between humans and nature. However, the physical environment is now widely recognised as a critical factor shaping well-being and as a factor worthy of its own justice. In this chapter I explore the nature of social work in the context of a prioritised physical environment and explore the links between social work, the environment, environmental justice and sustainability. This analysis has become increasingly significant in the context of climate changes, climate-induced disasters, environmental degradation and burgeoning populations placing increasing pressure on eco-systems and ecological well-being. In this context social work researchers are recognising new environmental challenges – challenges that are exacerbated by levels of poverty, inequitable access to resources and uneven power relations. Environmental social work, and its corollary – disaster social work, are areas of increasing practice significance as social workers are challenged to work with people in damaged environments. These emerging areas of practice highlight an increasing need for social workers to challenge practices that enhance environmental degradation, to incorporate sustainability and environmental consciousness as critical areas of practice and to undertake disaster preparation, planning, response and adaptation strategies to assist communities to build capacity and responsiveness in the face of environmental threats.