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<p>The urgent need for sustainable energy transitions in emerging economies has intensified the intersection between environmental and social challenges, reinforcing environmental rights as integral to human rights. This study presents an empirical investigation into the awareness and practice of green social work among Indian social workers and their role in promoting environmental sustainability. A cross-sectional electronic survey was conducted among 118 professional social workers across India. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS 20 (Mann–Whitney <i>U</i> and Kruskal–Wallis <i>H</i> tests), while qualitative responses were examined through thematic analysis. The findings reveal a significant awareness gap, with only 21.2% of respondents familiar with green social work. However, moderate engagement in sustainability-related practices—such as energy conservation, environmental discussions, and community awareness—indicates a “practice–knowledge paradox,” where practitioners engage in green activities without formally recognizing them as part of a structured framework. Inferential analysis showed that gender and age had limited influence on practices, whereas organizational context and professional experience significantly shaped engagement in specific areas. Thematic findings further highlight that social workers actively adopt personal sustainability practices and contribute to community-level initiatives, though macro-level advocacy remains limited. Grounded in ecological systems theory and the strengths-based perspective, the study underscores the need to institutionalize green social work within education and practice in India. Policy advocacy and targeted community-level interventions supporting transitions to cleaner household energy (e.g., solar or clean cookstoves), organizing neighborhood waste reduction, and integrating environmental-justice education into schools and community groups can position social workers as key facilitators in advancing environmental justice and sustainable energy transitions.</p>

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Recognizing Environmental Rights as Human Rights: Green Social Work Perspectives on India’s Energy Transition

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年8月4日

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  • Navdeep Kaur,
  • Anupam Sharma

摘要

The urgent need for sustainable energy transitions in emerging economies has intensified the intersection between environmental and social challenges, reinforcing environmental rights as integral to human rights. This study presents an empirical investigation into the awareness and practice of green social work among Indian social workers and their role in promoting environmental sustainability. A cross-sectional electronic survey was conducted among 118 professional social workers across India. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS 20 (Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis H tests), while qualitative responses were examined through thematic analysis. The findings reveal a significant awareness gap, with only 21.2% of respondents familiar with green social work. However, moderate engagement in sustainability-related practices—such as energy conservation, environmental discussions, and community awareness—indicates a “practice–knowledge paradox,” where practitioners engage in green activities without formally recognizing them as part of a structured framework. Inferential analysis showed that gender and age had limited influence on practices, whereas organizational context and professional experience significantly shaped engagement in specific areas. Thematic findings further highlight that social workers actively adopt personal sustainability practices and contribute to community-level initiatives, though macro-level advocacy remains limited. Grounded in ecological systems theory and the strengths-based perspective, the study underscores the need to institutionalize green social work within education and practice in India. Policy advocacy and targeted community-level interventions supporting transitions to cleaner household energy (e.g., solar or clean cookstoves), organizing neighborhood waste reduction, and integrating environmental-justice education into schools and community groups can position social workers as key facilitators in advancing environmental justice and sustainable energy transitions.