Environmental Justice in Social Work Practice
Summary
Environmental justice in social work practice concerns the equitable distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, ensuring that all communities—particularly those historically marginalised—enjoy a healthy environment and meaningful participation in related decisions. Grounded in core social work values of human rights, dignity and empowerment, this field addresses the disproportionate exposure of low-income, indigenous and racialised populations to pollution, climate risks and resource depletion. Practitioners draw on interdisciplinary frameworks to integrate ecological understanding into assessment, advocacy and intervention. Central strategies include community-based participatory approaches, structural analysis of power and resources, and policy advocacy for regulatory reforms. Education and workforce development now emphasise environmental literacy, disaster preparedness and collaborative partnerships with public health, planning and ecological sciences. From urban air quality campaigns to support for indigenous land rights and disaster recovery, environmental justice in social work underscores the profession’s commitment to social and ecological wellbeing on a global scale.
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Environmental Justice in Social Work Practice publication trend
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Technical terms
Environmental justice: The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in environmental decision-making, regardless of race, income or social status.
EcoSocial Work: A practice framework emphasising the interconnectedness of human wellbeing and ecological health, integrating environmental analysis into social work interventions.
Green social work: An approach that situates social work within environmental, disaster and sustainability contexts, focusing on resilience and ecosystem-centred practice.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A set of 17 global objectives established by the United Nations to address poverty, inequality and environmental degradation by 2030.
References
- Promoting sustainable development in the Australian Murray‐Darling basin: Envisioning an EcoSocial work approach. Sustainable Development (2024).
- Learning Green Social Work in Global Disaster Contexts: A Case Study Approach. Social Sciences (2023).
- GLOBAL AGENDA FOR SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: A PATH TOWARD SUSTAINABLE SOCIAL WORK. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk (2015).
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