By Jenifer Chacon and Vreny Palacios
El Niño did not save California from the drought. The state remains in a continued struggle with water levels and the emerging impact of the increasing temperature due to changes in climate. Issues affecting the economy, agriculture and public health have also come to the surface across the state calling upon a new wave of environmental advocates — social workers.
Social workers view the world through an ecological perspective that unravels the interaction between individuals, families, communities and society. The perspective allows social workers to understand the various levels of impact and intersecting issues such as racial, social and economic disparities. The profession’s ethical principle of service, advocacy and social justice also make social workers ideal individuals to address the issues and seek solutions. The environment is part of this perspective and the resulting social issues resulting from climate change directly affect an individual’s experience.
The state’s water crisis goes beyond the beautification of our lawns. As water becomes scarce, water will become a commodity creating a disparity between those that can afford it and those that cannot. The Los Angeles Times reported a Bel Air resident consumed 32,000 gallons a day totaling $90,000 a year for the privilege of water. On average an LA resident consumes 61 gallons of water per day. In contrast, Tulare County, one of the poorest counties in the state, was reported having more than 5,400 residents living without running water. The disparity is prevalent throughout the state and will continue to grow statewide if not properly addressed.
Water restrictions will also impact the state’s agriculture and distribution of food. The state’s agricultural industry alone supplies nearly half of all the fruits, nuts and vegetables consumed nationwide. The water shortage decreases agricultural productivity, limiting the variety of food grown and the availability of it across the state, eventually leading to higher food prices, access to quality food for many and financial stress to low income families.
Social workers have a history of addressing these types of issues. Early social workers addressed problems such as mental illness and child labor. Social workers continue tackling the issues that affect different populations and have an array of skills to affect change. Social workers have understood the issues of their times and created innovative interventions to address them. Climate change is the emerging issue of our time. We must address it and find the path forward to intervene and lessen the looming impact of environmental change.
As our lens extends to the climate, social workers must emerge as a voice for those negatively affected by the lingering threat of climate change. As El Niño season comes to an end, we must evaluate the impact of the environmental change through the social work perspective and be ready to strive for social justice. In the words of Dr. Elizabeth Clark, a fellow social worker, “we must not only protect our land, air and water, but our fellow community members” and serve as a voice for those whose livelihood is threatened by the impact of climate change.
