Advancing Social Justice Through Sustainability Green Social Work in the Context of Indias Energy Change
Author : Navdeep Kaur
Abstract :The urgent need for an efficient energy transition is growing in emerging economies to achieve sustainable development and avert catastrophic climate change. Environmental challenges are increasingly intertwined with social issues, leading social workers to integrate social justice and environmental sustainability into their intervention frameworks. This paper presents an empirical study, conducted by a social worker, exploring awareness of the ecosocial approach among Indian social workers and their engagement in promoting green energy adoption. An electronic survey of 118 social workers across diverse regions revealed that only 21.2% were familiar with green social work, indicating a notable knowledge gap. Despite limited awareness, those in NGOs, civil society, and policy roles actively promoted sustainable behaviors in urban areas, suggesting an emerging but underdeveloped ecosocial practice framework. The study, grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, underscores the interconnectedness of social systems and environmental contexts, highlighting social workers’ potential to influence sustainable energy transitions through interventions at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. The findings emphasize the need to integrate ecosocial principles into social work education and practice in India. Incorporating green social work content in curricula and professional training can address the knowledge gap and empower practitioners to advocate for sustainable energy. Policy advocacy and targeted community-level interventions can position social workers as key facilitators in the broader agenda of environmental justice and sustainable energy transitions.
Keywords :Green social work, ecosocial approach, energy transition, climate justice, India.
Conference Name :International Conference on Ecology (IC-E-25)
Conference Place Amritsar, India
Conference Date 2nd Aug 2025
