ABSTRACT

Drawing on qualitative data collected during the first phase of an intervention-research, this study explores the concept of “social-ecological transition” (SET) from the perspectives of youth eco-activists. As a multi-level approach to intersecting social and ecological crisis, this notion has yet been examined from a social work viewpoint and limited knowledge is available regarding how it is being appropriated and envisioned in nonscientific spaces. Considering the need to increase youth participation in ecosocial work and climate governance, youth eco-activists from Canada (N = 10) were interviewed to explore their definitions of the SET and to better understand youth-specific issues related to climate change and climate action. A focus group was conducted with five of those same youth and aimed to foreground their experiential knowledge to collaboratively refine the ecosocial component of a sport and nature-based program, implemented at a subsequent phase of the research. Findings show that youth focus especially on socio-cultural elements of the transition, therefore expanding current understandings of the SET. Three main components are mapped-out (Intersectional climate justice, Intergenerational allyship, Place-based connections) and reveal that collaborations, solidarities, and connections are at the heart of eco-activists’ narratives. Key considerations for ecosocial work practice are discussed by centering youth voices, thus showcasing the need for increased experiential learnings to (re)connect with nature and community. The concept of relational ecological justice is proposed to capture a nuanced, non-dichotomic position concerning the ecocentrism/anthropocentrism debate, an approach that invites to renegotiate the ontological boundaries of ecosocial work.

摘要

本研究利用干预研究第一阶段收集的定性数据，从青年生态活动家的角度探讨了“社会生态转型”（SET）的概念。作为解决交叉社会和生态危机的多层次方法，这一概念尚未从社会工作的角度进行审查，并且关于如何在非科学空间中利用和设想它的知识有限。考虑到需要增加青年参与生态社会工作和气候治理，来自加拿大的青年生态活动家（N = 10）接受采访，探讨他们对 SET 的定义，并更好地了解与气候变化和气候行动相关的青年具体问题。焦点小组与其中五名同样的年轻人一起进行，旨在突出他们的经验知识，以合作完善基于体育和自然的计划的生态社会部分，并在研究的后续阶段实施。调查结果表明，年轻人特别关注转型的社会文化因素，因此扩大了当前对 SET 的理解。规划了三个主要组成部分（跨部门气候正义、代际盟友关系、基于地方的联系），并揭示了合作、团结和联系是生态活动家叙述的核心。通过集中青年的声音来讨论生态社会工作实践的关键考虑因素，从而表明需要增加体验式学习以（重新）与自然和社区建立联系。提出关系生态正义的概念是为了捕捉关于生态中心主义/人类中心主义辩论的微妙的、非二分的立场，这种方法要求重新谈判生态社会工作的本体论边界。