13 - The environment

Summary

Introduction

The survival of many people, societies and, of course communities, and the biological support systems of the planet are at risk. It is a mainstream view that the biological systems on which all human life relies are, indeed, at risk (Jickling et al, 2021). With the climate and biodiversity crises, the social impact is apparent from scientific evidence. Environmental issues must now be a priority for community work. There is an urgency and an immediacy that runs counter to the often-long-term nature of much of our work, particularly community development. However, as the community work response to the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated in many countries, there is clearly the creativity and resourcefulness in the sector and in communities needed to begin to and contribute to practice, to respond to this urgency.

Engaging with theory is central to understanding this community work and developing and extending our practice. Westoby says: ‘Community development practitioners, without being enlivened by renewed theory … can easily become ossified with auto-pilot practice. Human-induced climate change and species extinction certainly invite new theory or new ideas’ (Westoby, 2021, 387).

Engaging with theory is complex. Robinson, for example (2018) introduces, us to the ‘Four Phases of Theory Engagement’, proposing that a cyclical and systematic way of harnessing theory in our operating contexts is beneficial. We are led from phase 1, with a focus on identification of the problem to be solved, through identification of relevant theory or theories of action and evaluation of success, to potential new theories of action. Robinson is accentuating the importance of theory to practice, and alerting us to the need for reflection around what works best. If community workers are to be fully effective, we suggest, they need to be fleet of foot and connected to current and emerging sources of impact of the climate crisis on those with whom we work.

This chapter is divided into two main parts. Firstly, we look at the theory of how we can link what we do as community workers to the environment, and secondly, we engage in more focused discussion on what this means in some key areas of practice.