Co-envisioning the social-ecological transition through youth eco-activists’ narratives: toward a relational approach to ecological justice

ABSTRACT

Drawing on qualitative data collected during the first phase of an intervention-research, this study explores the concept of “social-ecological transition” (SET) from the perspectives of youth eco-activists. As a multi-level approach to intersecting social and ecological crisis, this notion has yet been examined from a social work viewpoint and limited knowledge is available regarding how it is being appropriated and envisioned in nonscientific spaces. Considering the need to increase youth participation in ecosocial work and climate governance, youth eco-activists from Canada (N = 10) were interviewed to explore their definitions of the SET and to better understand youth-specific issues related to climate change and climate action. A focus group was conducted with five of those same youth and aimed to foreground their experiential knowledge to collaboratively refine the ecosocial component of a sport and nature-based program, implemented at a subsequent phase of the research. Findings show that youth focus especially on socio-cultural elements of the transition, therefore expanding current understandings of the SET. Three main components are mapped-out (Intersectional climate justice, Intergenerational allyship, Place-based connections) and reveal that collaborations, solidarities, and connections are at the heart of eco-activists’ narratives. Key considerations for ecosocial work practice are discussed by centering youth voices, thus showcasing the need for increased experiential learnings to (re)connect with nature and community. The concept of relational ecological justice is proposed to capture a nuanced, non-dichotomic position concerning the ecocentrism/anthropocentrism debate, an approach that invites to renegotiate the ontological boundaries of ecosocial work.

KEYWORDS:

• Social-ecological transition
• ecological justice
• qualitative research
• youth-inclusive research
• ecosocial work
• experiential knowlege

Acknowledgments

I am especially grateful for the youth eco-activists who contributed to this research, and I extend my appreciation to the ecological organizations that collaborated in the recruitment process. I am also grateful for the support and contributions of my Ph.D thesis advisor, Nicolas Moreau, University of Ottawa. Many thanks to Stephanie Marcil for editing the first version of this article and much appreciation is owed to the anonymous reviewers for their generous and thoughtful comments and suggestions, which helped enhance the overall quality and rigor of this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Data availability statement

Due to the nature of the research and for ethical reasons, supporting data cannot be shared publicly and therefore, is not available.

Notes

1. Whereas “environmental justice” is described as human-centric and anthropocentric as it highlights the disproportionate effects of climate change on humans, “ecological justice,” akin to ecocentrism, offers a broader view by including the needs and rights of the more-than-human world (Rambaree et al., 2019, p. 2).

Additional information

Funding

This doctoral research project is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.