Understanding the Need for Green Social Work: Perspectives from Environmentalists

Introduction & Background

Green social work is an emerging area of social work that focuses on the impact of environmental issues on human populations.  Environmental injustices experienced by vulnerable populations are deeply connected to existing social and economic injustices.  Climate change and its effects are of growing concern and will have a profound social impact, particularly among vulnerable populations.  Studies have found environmental pollution to disproportionately impact vulnerable populations.  Social workers must prepare to aid clients who are impacted by environmental issues and fight against environmental injustices. This research project explores the perspectives of environmental activists to understand how environmental issues affect vulnerable populations as well as how strategies used to fight against environmental injustices can be applied in social work practice and education. 

Methodology

This project used exploratory qualitative design.  Data collection consisted of semi-structured, one-on-one interviews.  Interviews lasted from 30 to 60 minutes and were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim.  Participants included 24 individuals who are experts, activists, and/or members of environmental groups.  Sampling strategies included purposive and snowball.  Constant comparison was used for data analysis following Creswell (2007) that entailed: 1) unitizing data; 2) sorting and categorizing units; 3) reviewing units within each category and re-categorizing if necessary; and 4) identifying themes among the categories.         

Findings

Three themes were found in the data analysis of how environmental issues impact vulnerable populations and their application to social work.  Participants highlighted advocacy, community organizing, and leadership as central to the roles and objectives within environmental work that can be adapted by social workers.  The participants noted pollution, climate change, and their consequences as environmental issues of importance for social workers to address.  Participants explained how vulnerable populations are impacted by environmental issues that can be used in social work for more comprehensive assessment of clients.  Among the risk factors, poverty was found to be the most significant factor in increasing one’s risk of exposure to environmental isses.

Conclusions & Implications

This study contributes to a better understanding of social work’s responsibility and role in this global crisis through practice and education.  Participants confirmed that the roles and objectives within environmental work align with the social work profession.  Environmental injustice must be added to the work and education within the profession of addressing social and economic injustice.  Through identifying environmental issues of importance, social workers can set environmental priorities within the profession.  Participants emphasized that many environmental issues are amplified by poverty.  This finding helps social workers to pay particular attention to environmental injustices when working with lower socio-economic status clients.