Disaster, Environmental Justice, and Eco-Therapy: Social Work in the Face of Climate Change

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Meredith C.F. Powers, Associate Professor (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: We live in a world plagued with environmental disasters and injustices of all kinds and we know the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters are due to climate change1-- which is directly exacerbated by global human behavior. Thankfully, our profession is ideally situated to address these very issues. Social workers in North Carolina (NC) are continuing to take up the call to respond to issues of climate change and environmental injustices that have surfaced during the recent devastation from Hurricanes Florence and Michael and the related storms and flooding. Simply put, environmental injustice2 means that people do not have the same access to benefits of the environment (such as clean air and water, access to healthy food and green spaces for physical and mental health) and/or they experience more of the burden from environmental degradation and disasters (such as only being able to afford housing in high risk areas, or having to take jobs that subject them to industrial toxins).

Additional Information

Publication
NASW-NC Newsletter, Winter 2018, 10
Language: English
Date: 2018
Keywords
climate justice, social work, North Carolina, eco-therapy

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