Role of Social Workers in Promoting Environment Sustainability in Urban Settings

This qualitative study explores the role of social workers in promoting environmental sustainability within urban settings in Sri Lanka. Utilising key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and observations, the study reveals diverse initiatives undertaken by social workers and their varying levels of awareness regarding environmental issues. To the author's best knowledge, except for a few pilot studies, there have been no distinct attempts to examine the practice of social workers specifically for environmental sustainability within the context of the Sri Lankan urban environment. The study objectives are to evaluate the knowledge of environmental sustainability amongst social workers, review the activities and programs for implementing and advancing sustainability, look at the barriers encountered in the process, and review community involvement and awareness. By conducting an exploratory study with ten social workers, the study reveals that the participants have a range of understanding of environmental sustainability from highly aware to lacking understanding and requesting cultural training and development. Social workers participate in sustainable practices, campaigns and partnerships within communities, authorities, and organizations. However, there are challenges such as; lack of funds, the institutional framework, competing agendas and policies, and policy deficiencies that prevent the efficient realization of this goal. The study demonstrates the involvement of the community and the importance of empowering it to find proper solutions to environmental problems in terms of the contribution of social workers. They become as the core components of awareness raising and campaigning for policies adoption to mainstream environment sustainability in social work education. These findings call for improved educational preparation, organizational backing, and policies to prepare social workers for overcoming current environmental obstacles and advocating for environmentally sustainable commitments in urban communities.