Addressing environmental justice: Virtue ethics, social work, and social welfare

Global environmental concerns are fundamental to the human condition and consequently to the social work profession. These complex issues require "big thinking." In this article, we use virtue theory and two major social work contributions in order to grapple with understanding and addressing environmental justice. Key virtues of compassion, solidarity, and justice in social work are especially effective as an underpinning of social work interventions at community and policy levels. To further develop this work, the article focuses on: (i) identifying environmental justice as a social work concern; (ii) describing the virtues and ethical frame of compassion, solidarity, and justice; (iii) applying this frame using the Grand Challenge of the changing environment and the Global Agenda For Social Work And Social Development report; and (iv) identifying the role of religious partners in this work. To effectively engage in environmental justice, social work requires broad conceptual thinking, strong ethical frames, and enhanced cooperative networks.