The Role of Social Work in Addressing Climate Change and Building Resilience in Sri Lanka

This article examines the pressing issue of climate change for social work in Sri Lanka. Climate threats like floods, droughts, and rising sea levels are disrupting lives and livelihoods, particularly for vulnerable communities. The paper discusses how social workers in Sri Lanka can contribute on macro, mezzo, and micro levels to efforts to address climate change, considering both adaptation and mitigation strategies. It argues for an integrated approach and emphasizes social work's role in promoting environmental justice. By extending the concept of "person-in-environment" to include the physical environment, social workers can incorporate a responsibility for the environment into their practice, aligning with existing social work theories.