Eco-Social Work for Disaster Risk Reduction: Advancing Social and Environmental Justice

This contributed volume examines the intersection of social work, environmental justice, and disaster risk reduction (DRR). It explores how eco-social approaches can bridge gaps in traditional DRR strategies by integrating social, economic, and cultural dimensions of disasters. Through theoretical insights and real-world case studies, the book highlights innovative ways to support vulnerable communities and promote interdisciplinary collaboration in disaster management.

As climate change and emerging risks intensify disasters, conventional DRR methods primarily address physical impacts, often neglecting social and environmental factors. This book confronts these gaps by presenting a holistic approach that integrates eco-social work into disaster risk reduction. It critically analyzes the fragmentation between social and environmental strategies, the challenges faced by marginalized populations, and the necessity of interdisciplinary responses. By emphasizing the need for justice-driven and sustainable DRR practices, the book contributes to an emerging academic discourse that reshapes disaster management frameworks.

Academics and practitioners in social work, environmental studies, public policy, and DRR will find valuable insights in this book. Researchers, policymakers, social workers, and disaster managers benefit from its theoretical foundations and empirical case studies. It is also an essential resource for students pursuing degrees in social work, environmental science, and disaster management.

Dr. Joice K Joseph serves as a faculty member in the Master of Social Work (Disaster Management) Department at the Loyola College of Social Sciences, Kerala, India. Dr. Joice holds a multidisciplinary academic background and professional expertise spanning Environmental Science, Social Work, and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). He is an established academic and practitioner with a unique interdisciplinary profile, blending qualifications in Environmental Sciences (Ph.D.), Disaster Management (MSc), and Social Work (MSW). With over a decade of academic and field experience, Dr. Joice advances integrated approaches that promote both environmental sustainability and social equity through notable articles that examine the intersections of Environmental Sustainability, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Social Equality and his prominent publications. Dr. Joice collaborated with both governmental and non-governmental organizations on various initiatives aimed at implementing DRR strategies that prioritized social and environmental sustainability. He also participated multiple field-based research initiatives, and in 2016, he was a member of the Indian Arctic Expedition, an opportunity that significantly enhanced his socio-ecological research exposure at a global level. He is the founder and lead of the pioneering research cluster, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Eco-social Work Research Group (DRR & ESWRG), a collective dedicated to advancing scholarly inquiry and practice in these fields. His work provides a vital framework for embedding ecological principles into the core of social work practice and DRR, aiming to build more resilient and just societies.

Dr. A. P. Pradeepkumar is a Professor of Geology at the University of Kerala, where he serves as the Director of the School of Earth System Sciences. With an illustrious academic background, he holds a BSc, MSc, and PhD in Geology from the University of Kerala. He previously held the position of Reader in Disaster Management at the School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, India. A veteran researcher and academician, Dr. Pradeepkumar's expertise spans diverse fields, including disaster management, GIS, ore genesis, and petrology. His international experience includes significant contributions to Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI) projects for carbon credits as part of European Union initiatives at the IER, Germany. Dr. Pradeepkumar is also the visionary behind the Disaster, Risk and Vulnerability Conference series, which he initiated in Kerala in 2011, now a reputable forum in its sixth edition. Before transitioning to academia, he served as a hydrogeologist with the Central Ground Water Board of India, bringing practical field experience to his teaching and research endeavors. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Pradeepkumar continues to mentor and inspire the next generation of geoscientists.