Opinion piece: People need nature to thrive – a case for inclusion of environmental sustainability in occupational therapy practice in rural South Africa

Abstract

Access to household amenities such as potable water, sanitation and electricity remains a challenge affecting many rural South African communities. These inequities, coupled with high levels of poverty, have resulted in heavy reliance on natural resources for survival and livelihoods making these rural communities highly vulnerable to climate change. The present and evolving impact of climate change on rural occupations and the need for occupational therapists (OTs) to be aware of this dynamic is crucial in building resilience and allowing for adaptation to ensure sustainability for these communities. Inclusion of environmental sustainability in occupational therapy (OT) practice is explored through a reflection on the work of a conservation non-governmental organisation in rural South Africa. The authors recommend that South African OTs take up the challenges presented by climate change as outlined in the WFOT Position Paper and Guidelines on Sustainability.