ABSTRACT
Green social work (GSW) is a transdisciplinary, holistic approach to environmental crises that has challenged the social work profession to incorporate its principles, values and concern over environmental degradation, and the disasters associated with this into daily, routine, mainstream practice. Whether arising through air, water and soil pollution caused by industrial contaminants or ‘natural’ hazards, these have damaged people’s health and well-being, and exploited the environment for the gain of the few. Thus, environmental crises perpetrate environmental injustices that must be eradicated before their deleterious effects become irreversible. The green in green social work highlights the imperative of caring for the beautiful living planet human beings inhabit. The earth that sustains us has its bounty currently exploited by 1 per cent of the population for itself. Its destruction impacts heavily on the 99 per cent.
