CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE MARGINALIZED: EXPLORING THE ROLE OF SOCIAL WORK IN PROTECTING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN BALOCHISTAN

Abstract

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and most climate-vulnerable province, faces escalating environmental challenges such as extreme heat, prolonged droughts, water scarcity, and desertification. These climatic stresses disproportionately affect marginalized groups—particularly rural communities, women, children, and the poor—who rely heavily on natural resources for their survival. Despite increasing awareness of environmental degradation, the social dimensions of climate change remain understudied in Balochistan. This study examines the intersection of climate change and social vulnerability, exploring how social work can play a transformative role in protecting and empowering marginalized populations across the province. The purpose of this research is to identify the social, economic, and institutional gaps that hinder effective community adaptation and to propose a framework through which social work can contribute to climate resilience. A qualitative methodology was employed, using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with social workers, community leaders, and representatives from local welfare organizations in Quetta, Turbat, and Jaffarabad. Secondary data from provincial climate reports and welfare department publications supported the analysis. Findings reveal that climate-induced hardships—loss of livelihoods, forced migration, and food insecurity—are compounded by weak institutional responses and limited social safety nets. Social workers, however, emerge as crucial agents of change by facilitating community awareness, mobilizing local support networks, and advocating for inclusive climate policies. The study concludes that integrating environmental perspectives into social work practice can strengthen community resilience and ensure that climate responses address both ecological and social justice dimensions. It recommends developing climate-focused social work training, empowering local welfare institutions, and embedding social protection measures within provincial climate adaptation plans to safeguard Balochistan’s most vulnerable populations.