ABSTRACT
The current human-made climate crisis continues to have a devastating impact on our global and interdependent environments. Our resources and opportunities to live healthy, productive, and meaningful lives are depleted. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report (2021) indicates that evidence of observed changes in extreme weather has been experienced globally in the form of heat waves, heavy precipitation, droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, and tropical cyclones. Populations’ ability to survive in their home environments has been altered, causing forced migration creating a crisis that is a social, cultural, economic, and global challenge to our humanity. Recently, U.N. Secretary-General, António Guterres, stated that the Intergovernmental panel report (2021) is a “code red for humanity.” This chapter discusses the climate-induced environmental crisis in relationship to migrants that are being displaced (migrants on the move) steps toward mitigation and adaptation through an Ecosocial, person-in-environment framework. This approach underscores the importance of understanding an individual and their behavior in the context of their environment and the ecosystems in which that person lives and acts. A climate resilience pathway is suggested that emphasizes degrowth as a measure of advancement in social welfare and environmental justice. Many economists, environmentalists, and social workers agree sustainable development occurs when governments, institutions, global economies collaborate, and invest in human and physical infrastructure developments to mitigate climate change that benefits all, especially our most vulnerable populations-migrants on the move. The key role of social workers is to advocate for environmental justice by working collaboratively with other professionals to shape policies and programs for migrants on the move. A social work model on transforming the “red code for humanity” to a “green code for humanity” is recommended. Case studies illustrate the global disparities in relationship to earth’s resources and access to technology. The authors conclude with a discussion of environmental justice intervention through Integrated Water Resource Management, technology, and human and physical infrastructure investments. Social work must be a leading partner in mitigating climate change for vulnerable populations and protecting the earth’s resources through equitable policies and programs promoting environmental justice.
