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There’s a climate connection to the 2024 elections. What role can social workers play in advancing democratic, social, and climate action?

Dr. Smitha Rao, Advocacy Director Steve David and Dr. Michelle Kaiser addressed these questions in a recently published commentary titled “Ballot Earth: Democracy, Climate Change, and Our Collective Future” in Social Work, the flagship NASW Journal.

Recognizing that the 2024 elections worldwide are among some of the most significant of our time, the CSW authors highlight the tremendous social implications these elections will have. Also called the “climate elections” by Covering Climate Now, these elections present opportunities for significant climate and social action through coordinated strategies.

The commentary discusses the role of political social work amidst deep-rooted tensions as well as the importance of envisioning how democracy survives converging climate disasters, pandemic aftereffects, and sociotechnological challenges while leveraging disciplinary strengths.

Social workers tackle complex issues that cannot be solved through voting alone, the authors say. Elections, however, influence the distribution of state resources.

Rao, David and Kaiser call for employing “diverse tactics based on material realities that social work teaches and organizes around.”

They suggest that elections are an opportunity and reminder for social workers committed to the democratic framework to realize that their job is not done with voting. In a time that feels chaotic, divisive, and desperate, social workers must focus on all available tools, from ballots to community building, to strengthen the foundations for our collective future.

You can access the commentary here.