Meeting the challenge of human-induced climate change: reshaping social work education

ABSTRACT

Human-induced climate change presents a global challenge that necessitates a comprehensive shift in social work education and practice. To meet these demands, social work educators will need to integrate the theoretical framework of environmental justice into core curricula, map social work skill sets onto the work of promoting environmental justice, and create and disseminate pedagogical strategies for teaching this content.

This paper presents a brief theoretical framework for integration into each core content area, followed by examples of specific strategies for inclusion. We conclude by discussing next steps for capacity-building within the social work profession.

KEYWORDS:

• Ecological social work
• social work education
• social work pedagogy
• green social work
• environmental justice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amber M Holbrook

Dr. Amber M Holbrook is an Associate Professor in the Graduate Department of Social Work at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Ginneh Akbar

Dr. Ginneh Akbar is an Assistant Professor in the Graduate Department of Social Work at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Julia Eastwood

Ms. Julia Eastwood is a Master of Social Work candidate in the Graduate Department of Social Work at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.