Introduction: The goal of occupational therapy is to promote health and well-being through meaningful occupations. Climate change and unsustainable lifestyles negatively affect society and people’s ability to engage in occupations. Vulnerable groups and developing countries are particularly at risk. Occupational therapy has great potential in this context, as occupational therapists utilize knowledge, experience, and skills to play an essential role in advancing sustainable development and environmental protection. Human occupations may be one of the causes for the ecological and social crisis, but at the same time, occupational therapy offers opportunities for sustainable solutions. Purpose: To explore this issue, define the role of the profession and occupational therapists, determine the potential contributions of incorporating sustainable development into occupational therapy, and propose ways of integrating sustainability into existing occupational therapy frameworks. Methods: A qualitative methodology was used, specifically thematic analysis. The purposive sample consisted of six participants, including students, professors, and occupational therapists. We conducted in-depth interviews, and the data were analyzed according to the principles of thematic analysis. Results: From 57 codes, 15 subcategories were generated, which were further grouped into three main themes: “the sustainable therapist”, “client-centered sustainable practice”, and “sustainability and the environment”. Findings show that sustainable thinking and action begin at a personal level and are then applied in occupational therapy, which, by nature, is already a sustainability-oriented profession. Occupational therapists recognize the importance of incorporating sustainability and environmental protection into their practice and have both a willingness and a motivation to do so. However, several barriers exist, including a lack of knowledge, limited resources and research, as well as inadequate institutional and systemic support. Education about sustainable development plays a crucial role, not only during occupational therapy studies but also in professional practice. The exchange of ideas with colleagues, other disciplines, and experts in this field can lead to significant change. Discussion and conclusion: In addition to its contribution to sustainability and addressing climate change, occupational therapy’s engagement in this area can create new opportunities for therapists and occupational scientists, such as working across diverse fields, collaborating with other professions, expanding models and frameworks of practice, and opening new avenues for research and professional growth. Although climate change poses a threat to the planet, it remains essential for occupational therapists to prioritize the needs of the user. Therefore, sustainability should enrich but not dictate therapeutic interventions. How this is realized in practice depends both on the therapist and, above all, on each user, their needs and goals. Occupational therapy thus contributes to the broader achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals while simultaneously enriching the profession itself.
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