Adaptation of social work professions to the prevention of natural risks and the consequences of climate change Erasmus Project

Project Title

Adaptation of social work professions to the prevention of natural risks and the consequences of climate change

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Environment and climate change; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Social/environmental responsibility of educational institutions

Project Summary

“People who are socially, economically, culturally, politically, institutionally or otherwise marginalized are particularly vulnerable to climate change as well as to some adaptation and mitigation strategies.” (IPCC – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). In this respect, which concerns both the least developed countries and populations in fragile social situations in developed countries, there is a second observation: the very ambitious objectives of the European Union in reducing Greenhouse Gases. require the active mobilization of all stakeholders, starting with all the inhabitants. However, it is clear that the most socially fragile populations are also for various reasons (poverty, level of education, linguistic factor) those who feel least invested in actions of citizen participation, particularly in the field of sustainable development.

The term social worker encompasses all qualified professionals who provide answers to people in economic or social difficulties. It concerns social service assistants, specialized educators, facilitators, social and family education counselors, family workers, etc.

Because of their profession and their proximity to the most vulnerable groups, social workers play a key role in addressing climate change issues both upstream and in anticipation and prevention of the consequences of climate change for the most vulnerable populations. exposed and downstream from crises, particularly natural disasters induced by climate change, with support for individuals and collectives in the context of individual and collective post-event management.

In addition, beyond their position as major victims of the consequences of climate change, especially natural disasters, vulnerable populations are also often brought to adapt to situations by means and forms of ad hoc collective organization ( for example: organizing collective green spaces to develop islands of freshness, create AMAPs to promote sustainable consumption, encourage carpooling, promote children’s awareness of natural hazards). In this context, the role of the social worker becomes that of a coordinator-facilitator, able to identify innovative local initiatives, to stimulate projects, to support the actors of innovation, to bring their voices and more broadly to allow good practices to be disseminated.

To do this, it is important for social workers to know and integrate into active partnerships between territorial operators in the face of climate change (prevention of risks, housing and sustainable consumption, awareness raising, etc.), which is not the case still today lack of knowledge of the sector. A fortiori, beyond a few local initiatives, they are only very little involved in actions related to climate change.

Social & Nature intends to address this issue by creating a transnational consortium whose objective is to build together a European framework for training social work trainers that can strengthen the skills of social workers to address the problem of natural hazards and the consequences of change. climate change and offer it to training centers and institutions in charge of social policies.

To respond coherently to challenges that go beyond national frameworks, the transnational dimension is necessary. In addition, the diversity and complementarity of the know-how of local actors, situations and experiences will enrich the repository of available solutions and approaches.

Project Website

https://www.socialandnature.eu/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 276020 Eur

Project Coordinator

INSTITUT CORSE DE FORMATION ET RECHERCHE EN TRAVAIL SOCIAL & Country: FR

Project Partners

• ENAIP ENTE ACLI ISTRUZIONE PROFESSIONALE FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA TRIESTE
• Mesogeiako Kentro Perivallontos
• IASIS
• ITG CONSEIL
• UNESSA