Climate change and health: annotations for its approach from a social work perspective

Abstract

Climate change is one of the topics of greatest discussion in recent years, thanks to growing scientific research conducted internationally and disseminated by various media. This discussion on the importance of environmental protections and their climate implications, paired with an economy that favors growth to the detriment of ecological balance, has become a global issue over the last several decades.

The effects of climate change have repercussions throughout the social landscape and, as such,
have and a direct impact on quality of life for humanity, mainly for those in adverse socioeconomic conditions. This issue cannot be treated as external to professions like Social Work, whose genesis is the product of work among the most disadvantaged sectors of the population.

As a result, this article reflects on the topic, posing certain reflections, as well as conceptual aspects and information provided by specialists who have studied the subject in depth. It also analyzes various possibilities regarding courses of action from a Social Work perspective, with a goal of motivating unions to proactively get involved in its approach, within their spheres of work in institutions, with social groups and communities, and based on inter- and transdisciplinary articulation.