Vision of a shared future in an eco-social world

Published by Professional Social Work magazine, 17 October, 2022

The People's Global Summit started a grass-roots global movement honouring differing world cultures under a vision of sustainability, social justice and working together for an eco-social world. ROWENA PYOTT was there, funded by BASW’s International Development Fund and shares her reflections on the event.

International pledges made by governments following the Second World War offering safety and the opportunity to flourish have failed.

Across the world we are facing extremes of poverty, instability and disasters associated with climate change. As a result, we need new policies and agendas that will support both the planet and its people - a new eco-social world.

The People’s Global Summit was designed as a response to the need for change. The world is still emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic with the recognition of the damage that has occurred throughout the world.

The conference, attended by representatives from across the globe, was themed around diversity, respect, Ubuntu and Buen Vivir, providing many spaces in keynotes, live panels, open mic and workshops for the exploration of issues impacting the world today.

It was during the live panel ‘Mobilising Research and Action for a New Eco Social Contract’ that I was struck by the breadth of participation. People joined from India, Austria, Nigeria, Mexico, Kenya and the UK. The discussion centred on how we can build solidarity together. What became clear to me was that through recognition of each other’s worth and supporting others through mutual respect extending to the earth’s natural resources, it is possible to make a difference.

During the panel presentation, I was struck by a comment made by Najma Moham, policy director of the Green Economy Coalition, who said: “Find ways for people to own their own power.”

We often talk about empowerment within social work but how often is this about a person doing something that has been written into a care or support plan rather than enabling a real sense of personal autonomy forged on respect and coproduction?

By truly enabling a person to become empowered they are supported to make their own, self-determined changes making co-production valued and sustainable and helping to ensure that no one is left behind.

I have worked in community-based projects to prevent problems from occurring rather than reactive, individualised approaches. And I am saddened that the majority of statutory-based social work in the UK no longer provides the space for social workers to work within and alongside communities of people and spaces. The summit was a good opportunity to learn from social workers around the world and helped me to think about social work as a global profession with many distinct aspects and roles. Broadening our knowledge can support the development of global principles and together we can work to bring about change for all.

I am interested in how social and environmental justice are intrinsically linked and the potential role of social workers in the promotion and implementation of actions to protect both people and planet. In the keynote session and live panel facilitated by the Social Work Ethics Research Group, we were reminded about the interconnectedness of all living things and how as social workers we need a broader connection with other disciplines, enabling our expertise to come to the fore in supporting people living in marginalised communities vulnerable to climate change.

Shorter workshops provided a reminder that people living in disadvantaged communities are more likely to be impacted by the climate crisis and how to bring this knowledge to practice. Erica Rabe discussed how environmental factors could be included in children’s risk assessments and subsequently how this would support social workers challenging those perpetuating climate damage. As social workers we should embody values challenging injustice and advocating for the rights of others. The summit extended these values to the natural world and showed how the promotion of environmental justice supports the wellbeing of all.

The summit proposed revitalised ways of working together with much focus on achievements and struggles through the Covid pandemic. It left me with feelings of hope, and that there are many people wanting to work together to create a kinder and fairer world. There are numerous opportunities to learn from each other and consider how our actions can support people, communities, and the planet.

Robert Blum, in his contribution, highlighted a lack of training as a barrier to social workers working to support environmental justice. As a social work educator, I can work to ensure the students I teach qualify with the values, knowledge and skills to consider ecological issues in their practice and enter the workforce with a commitment to reducing social and environmental injustices. Subsequently, I will endeavour to include green social work values within my lectures to ensure new social workers have the values and skills to support a new eco-social world.

The People’s Global Summit was organised by United Nations Research Institute for Social Development and the International Federation of Social Workers along with 24 global diverse organizations representing millions of people with roots in communities throughout the world.

Rowena Pyott is a lecturer in social work at the University of Lincoln.