Introduction to Sustainable

Engineering (22ETC25G)

Dr. GAUTAM S NAIR

Assistant Professor
Department of Civil Engineering, NMIT
"You can resist an invading army, you cannot

resist an idea whose time has come"

- Victor Hugo, a French poet and novelist

Meaning:
o While physical force and resistance may be used against a military invasion, it
is much more difficult to oppose or stop an idea or concept that has gained
momentum and is widely accepted or supported.
o Ideas and societal changes have a powerful and unstoppable force that can go
beyond any barriers and oppositions.
o Sustainability is one of such idea that can bring out a societal change in this
world
 UNIT -1- (8L+0T+0P)

Sustainable Development and Role of Engineers: Introduction, Why

and What is Sustainable Development, The SDGs, Paris Agreement and

Role of Engineering, Sustainable Development and the Engineering

Profession, Key attributes of the Graduate Engineering Sustainable

Engineering Concepts: Key concepts – Factor 4 and Factor 10: Goals of

sustainability, System Thinking, Life Cycle Thinking and Circular

Economy.
 DEVELOPMENT

 Gradual growth of a situation that becomes more advanced and

strong than previous one

 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

 A development approach that meets the needs of the present generation without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

 Involves finding a balance between economic growth, social

progress, and environmental protection

 Sustainable development recognizes the interconnections

between economic, social, and environmental aspects of human

well-being
 ALARMING STATISTICS

 Millions of people have been lifted out of poverty through economic development
over the past decades. But the negative environmental and social impacts that have
been created may undermine or even reverse the development that has been achieved
to date

 Since the 1950s, the extraction of natural resources and related environmental impacts
have greatly accelerated worldwide and there are increasing pressures on the global
environment

 The world has to deal with issues such as climate change, deforestation, biodiversity
losses, and decline in air and water quality
 ALARMING STATISTICS

 Close to 2/3rd of world’s ecosystems – tropical forests, fisheries, soils, freshwater

resources and so on – are now in serious decline

 There are irreversible losses of ecosystems because of habitat change,

nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, climate change, invasive species, and

overexploitation (with fisheries and forestry)

 One million plant and animal species are on the verge of extinction, with

alarming implications for human survival

 ALARMING STATISTICS
 Figure shows yearly temperature anomalies from 1880 to 2014

 All four records show rapid warming in the past few decades, and

all show the last decade as the warmest

 The world is nearly 1 ºC above pre-industrial level and nine of the

ten warmest years have occurred since 2005, with the last five years (2014–2018) ranking as the five warmest
years on record

 Global temperatures will continue to rise for decades to come,

largely due to greenhouse gases produced by human activities

 ALARMING STATISTICS

 Global resource use has more than tripled since 1970 to reach 92 billion tonnes

in 2017

 During the 20th century, the annual extraction of ores and minerals grew

by a factor of 27, construction materials by a factor of 34, fossil fuels by a factor

of 12, and biomass by a factor of 3.6

 In total, material extraction increased by a factor of about 8

 The average person in high-income countries relied on close to 10 tonnes of primary materials sourced
from elsewhere in the world in 2017

 Similarly, the use of some natural resources essential to prosperity – including freshwater, land and
soils, and fish – have similarly increased, in many cases beyond sustainable levels

 Environmental impacts of material

consumption are three to six times greater

in high-income countries than in

 PRESENT SCENARIO

 Climate change, biodiversity loss, and resources scarcity will define the global agenda for
generations to come. Another way to look at the scale of the challenges ahead is to consider our
ecological footprint (EF)

 EF is a condensed way of understanding

the relationship between our consumption of

resources and the capacity of the planet to provide

them and absorb the emissions generated

 It compares human demand with our planet’s

ecological capacity to regenerate

 PRESENT SCENARIO

 Humans are using natural resources 1.7 times faster than what ecosystems can regenerate

 This means it now takes Earth one year and eight months to regenerate what we use in a year

 We are using more ecological resources and services than nature can regenerate through
overfishing, overharvesting forests, and emitting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than
forests can sequester

 And worse, by 2030, this number will go beyond 2.

 Simply put, this is not a sustainable path for our planet’s future!
 ON THE SOCIAL DIMENSION
 While global poverty rates have been cut by more than half since 2000, one in ten people in
developing regions are still living with their families on less than the international poverty line of
USD1.90 a day, and there are millions more who make little more than this daily amount

 42% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa continues to live below the poverty line

 Poverty, besides the lack of income and resources to ensure a sustainable livelihood, is also
manifested by: Hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social
discrimination, exclusion as well as the lack of participation in decision-making

 Globally, inequality has also increased, with 62 of the world’s richest people

owning as much wealth as half of the world’s population in 2015

 Large disparities remain in access to basic services such as education, healthcare,

and sanitation

 Certain groups are disproportionately affected by such disparities, including

migrants, women, children, persons with disabilities, ethnic and religious

 CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

 Emerged in 1950s and 1960s, because human activity was having severe negative impacts
on the planet, and that patterns of growth and development would be unsustainable if
they continued as they were

 Definition of sustainable development (refer slide #4) is based on 3 concepts:

 Basic needs of the most deprived, who should be given the highest priority

 Limitations that the state of our techniques and our social organization

imposes on the capacity of the environment to meet current and future needs, and

 “Intra-generational and intergenerational equity” (i.e., the fair distribution

of, and access to resources within the same generation, and between future

generations)

 Sustainable development strives to simultaneously address three developmental

dimensions: the social, the environmental, and the economic
 CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

 Sustainable development requires the simultaneous achievement of economic

success, social benefit, and high environmental quality together

 Measuring success against all three factors at the same time is often referred to as the
“triple bottom line” approach

 The economy, society, and environment are of equal priority

 However, within the Earth’s single planet limit, the environment

supports our human society, which has invented the economy to serve

its needs
 CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

 The climate change issue reminds us that it is the laws of nature that are unchangeable while
economic rules and society’s behavior can be changed

 Ecosystem services (production of atmospheric gases or the purification of soil, water, and air or
the storage and cycling of freshwater and nutrients or the regulation of the chemistry of the
atmosphere and oceans or supporting biodiversity and maintenance of habitats for wildlife) are not
substitutable by technological innovation

 Therefore, the actual relationship between the three dimensions is

more like the social and economic dimensions being nested in the

environment dimension

 Therefore, sustainable development is a process of moving the

circles together so that they almost completely overlap but with the societal

and economic circles enclosed within the environmental circle, at which

point all human activity is sustainable

 CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

 “Sustainable development” and “sustainability” differ,

in that sustainability is the goal, while sustainable

development is the process or journey for achieving that

goal

 Engineering is indirectly linked to the three components of

sustainability

 Resources used in engineering, whether fuels, minerals, or

water, are required in virtually all economic sectors

 They are obtained from the environment and in turn, the environment also acts as a dump yard for
all the wastes generated from engineering processes

 Finally, the services provided by engineering allow for good living standards, and often support
social stability as well as cultural and social development

 Achieving of sustainability in engineering is thus a critical aspect of achieving sustainable

development, in individual countries and globally
 WHY IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IMPORTANT FOR ENGINEERS TO
CONSIDER IT IN THEIR WORK?

 Environmental responsibility

 Engineers play a critical role in designing and implementing infrastructure, systems, and
technologies that have a significant impact on the environment. By integrating sustainability
principles into their work, engineers can minimize environmental harm, reduce resource depletion,
and promote the conservation of ecosystems

 Social equity

 Sustainable development aims to address social inequalities and improve the quality of life for all
people. Engineers have the ability to design and implement solutions that promote equitable access
to resources, infrastructure, and services, ensuring that communities are not left behind and that
vulnerable populations are considered in decision-making processes
 WHY IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IMPORTANT FOR ENGINEERS TO
CONSIDER IT IN THEIR WORK?

 Economic viability

 Sustainable development recognizes that economic growth must be balanced with long-term
economic stability and resource efficiency. Engineers can contribute by designing and implementing
technologies and practices that optimize resource use, reduce waste, and promote renewable energy
sources, leading to cost savings, improved efficiency, and long-term economic benefits

 Future proofing

 By considering sustainable development principles, engineers can anticipate and mitigate potential
risks and challenges associated with climate change, resource scarcity, and environmental
degradation. This proactive approach helps ensure the resilience and adaptability of infrastructure
and systems to changing conditions, protecting investments and the well-being of communities in
the long run
 WHY IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IMPORTANT FOR ENGINEERS TO
CONSIDER IT IN THEIR WORK?

 Regulatory compliance

 Many countries and regions have implemented regulations and standards that require projects and
developments to adhere to sustainability principles. Engineers need to consider these regulations and
integrate sustainable practices into their designs and projects to meet legal requirements and obtain
necessary approvals.

 Professional ethics

 Engineers have a professional duty to prioritize the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
Considering sustainable development aligns with these ethical responsibilities by promoting
responsible engineering practices that minimize harm, enhance societal well-being, and protect the
environment.
 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) & PARIS AGREEMENT

 Nations met in September 2015 at the UN in New York and committed to the SDGs –
17 global goals with 169 targets – to be met by 2030 (UN, 2015)

 These goals apply to every nation and every sector

 SDGs are global and aimed at government, business, and nongovernmental

organizations alike

 Cities, businesses, schools, organizations, all are challenged to act

 It must also be recognized that each goal is important in itself and they are all
connected
 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) & PARIS AGREEMENT
 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) & PARIS AGREEMENT
 We have to move on all the SDGs at the same time, but we have to move forward very urgently on
climate change (SDG 13) otherwise we will not get the resources to achieve the others

 The Paris Agreement was reached by the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) on 12 December 2015 in Paris and symbolizes a fundamentally new
course in the global fight against climate change

 As the first ever universal and legally binding global climate agreement, it sends a clear signal to all
stakeholders that resources have to shift away from fossil fuels

 It also shifted from a top-down to a bottom up process with the nationally determined contributions
(NDCs)

 A top-down process refers to a centralized approach where global agreements or targets are set at an
international level, and then individual countries are expected to implement them

 A bottom-up process implies a decentralized approach, where individual countries determine their own
targets and actions based on their unique circumstances and priorities

 NDCs refers to the commitments made by individual countries under the Paris Agreement, which was
 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) & PARIS AGREEMENT

 Both the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement are highly significant in

that they commit industrialized and emerging economies and other

developing countries to join forces to eradicate poverty, and protect Earth’s resources
and ecosystems for the benefit of present and future generations

 Achieving the SDGs and the Paris Agreement will require engineering expertise to plan
and implement cost-effective, feasible solutions in collaboration with scientists, policy-,
and decision-makers as well as international and national financial institutions

 Goals 6 (clean water and sanitation), 7 (affordable and clean energy), 9 (industry,
innovation, and infrastructure), and 11 (sustainable cities and communities) have
obvious engineering requirements associated with them
 GOAL 1: NO POVERTY

 Eliminating world poverty in all its forms and dimensions by 2030 will

require an enormous effort by governments, civil society, and the private sector

 Engineering contributes to the eradication of poverty both indirectly and directly

 Provision of services such as planning and implementing new infrastructure

to provide clean water and sanitation contributes indirectly to lift people out of poverty

 The provision of urban systems by engineers makes economic development possible to

eradicate poverty
 GOAL 2: ZERO HUNGER

 A tough challenge to achieve this goal

 Approx. 10% of the world population are estimated to be chronically

undernourished and about 90 million children under the age of 5 are

dangerously underweight

 Actions for achieving this goal include establishing sustainable food production systems and
increased agricultural productivity to increased investment in rural infrastructure, agricultural
research and extension services, technology development, sustainable irrigation, sustainable
transportation, and so on

 The production of more and more nutritious food will be aided by factors

that include pest outbreak and climate modeling, safe and sustainable

herbicides and fertilizers, and the development of different strains of crops and

animals

 All of this will require expertise from the relevant engineering disciplines
 GOAL 3: GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

 Access to good health and well-being is a human right

 Engineers contribute to good health and well-being in numerous ways

directly as well as indirectly

 They ensure that relevant policies and guidelines are in place to

mitigate the impact of infrastructural development upon human beings and health

 They prevent and reduce deadly diseases and epidemics from

spreading when assisting governments and local authorities to

implement water and sanitation programs

 By engineering, better medicine, advancing health informatics, providing

clean air, clean water, and safe food production, developing bioengineering

and nanotechnology life improvement devices and materials, engineers

contribute significantly to this goal

 GOAL 4: QUALITY EDUCATION

 Education is one of the most powerful and proven accelerators for

sustainable development and will therefore contribute to the fulfillment of the

other 16 goals

 Engineering plays a role in achieving this goal by helping to develop the

necessary skills and resources, creating and enforcing policies related to

employment, and promoting individualized learning experiences

 GOAL 5: GENDER EQUALITY

 Providing women and girls with equal access to education, healthcare, decent work, and
representation in political and economic decision-making processes will fuel sustainable
economies and benefit societies and humanity at large

 Engineers seek to ensure that gender equality remain central to all projects that they
implement in partnership with other stakeholders

 Engineers’ associations work to increase participation of women in all engineering fields

 GOAL 6: CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION

 Access to clean water and sanitation and comprehensive

freshwater management are essential to life, health, environment,

and economic prosperity in the developing countries

 With more than 2 billion people globally living in countries

with excess water stress and some 2.4 billion people with

Inadequate or no access to sanitation, this is undoubtedly one of

the most important ones for engineers

 They design water and sanitation facilities; develop education

programs for hygiene, sanitation, and water usage; and provide

capacity building to governments and local authorities in water

and sanitation
 GOAL 7: AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY

 Energy is essential to keep life, production, growth, and development going

 However, being the main contributor to climate change, energy also

constitutes one of the biggest challenges that the world and humanity face today

 This calls for new green and sustainable energy solutions and behavioral change

 Engineers design and implement stand-alone energy systems,

provide technical assistance to local authorities, assist

governments with energy efficiency strategies, or design integrated

renewable energy solutions, including wind, solar, biomass, and

hydro so as to make them affordable

 GOAL 8: DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

 Unemployment and low wages are significant global challenges

 Around half the world’s population lives on the equivalent of about

USD 2, and having a job does not guarantee the ability to escape that situation

 It requires sustainable economic growth and conditions that allow people

to have quality jobs that stimulate the economy while not harming the environment

 Engineers contribute to economic growth, productive employment, and decent work when
assisting authorities, with plans to address resource efficiency in consumption and production,
and when working with development institutions with a specific

focus upon initiatives to boost economic development and job creation

 GOAL 9: INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

 Insufficient infrastructure constitutes a major challenge in many developing countries.

 A well-developed infrastructure is key to industrialization, market access, job creation,

information, education, and training

 Engineers develop quality, reliable and sustainable railways, harbors, roads, bridges, and so on
to support economic development and human well-being

 Engineers also assist both national and local governments with infrastructure-related capacity
building, for instance, addressing road maintenance and road safety

 Engineers play a major role also in sustainable manufacturing

 GOAL 10: REDUCED INEQUALITIES

 Reducing inequality within and among countries is an issue that calls for global solutions

 Today, the richest 10% earns around 40% of total global income

 Fighting income inequality is one of the goals where engineering companies can contribute
directly such as ensuring a living wage for workers, or indirectly such as strengthening land
rights for some of the poorest in the world
 GOAL 11: SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES

 By 2030, almost 60% of the world’s population will live in urban

areas

 Common urban challenges, as a result, include congestion, lack

of funds to provide basic services, shortage of adequate

housing, pollution, and declining infrastructure

 Engineers assist to build sustainable and climate-resilient buildings utilizing local materials,
helping create carbon-neutral cities, and mitigating the environmental impacts, for example, air
pollution, waste management of growing cities, and expanding infrastructure

 Bridging the digital divide, where most of the world does not have access to the internet, is also
crucial

 Engineers will need to leverage existing and widely deployed technologies and future
developments in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) – including next-generation
mobile broadband, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and others – to
provide the tools for integrated solutions for sustainable development
 GOAL 12: RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION

 Sustainable growth and development require minimization of the natural

resources and toxic materials used and of the waste and pollutants

generated throughout the entire production and consumption process

 We need to do more with less, pollute less, and we need to recycle and

upcycle what we yesterday called waste

 Engineers work with various stakeholders to promote the circular economy

and the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources,

including food, water, and energy consumption

 GOAL 13: CLIMATE ACTION

 Climate change is now affecting every country on every continent, and mitigating climate change and its
impacts

will require global commitment, enormous resources, and innovative ideas and processes

 Engineers contribute to the fight against climate change when working to adapt to and

mitigate the significant impacts of climate change, including changing weather patterns, rising sea levels, and

extreme weather events

 They aim to make communities more resilient and able to adapt to climate-related hazards

 They also strive to incorporate measures to address climate change into national policies and planning

 They aim to strengthen institutions and build the capacity of individuals and organizations in adapting to
and mitigating the impacts of climate change

 They develop methods to capture and store carbon dioxide to reduce its impact on the environment

 Additionally, they work towards making sustainable energy accessible and affordable for

everyone

 Lastly, they aim to design buildings and infrastructure that can withstand and adapt to the

challenges posed by climate change.

 GOAL 14: LIFE BELOW WATER

 Oceans contain nearly 200,000 identified species. Oceans serve as the world’s largest

source of protein, with more than 3 billion people depending on the oceans as their

primary source of protein

 40% of the world’s oceans are badly affected by human activities such as pollution,

depleted fisheries, and loss of coastal habitats

 Engineers work in partnership with various stakeholders to prevent and

reduce marine pollution of all kinds, to sustainably manage and

protect marine and coastal ecosystems, to develop conservation plans

in line with national and international policies and conventions, and

to provide institutional strengthening and capacity building to relevant

authorities in all aspects of marine management and conservation

 They also improve monitoring and work toward better provision of data

for resources management

 GOAL 15: LIFE ON LAND

 Preservation of our forests and enrichment of the globe’s biodiversity are both central themes to
sustainable development

 Engineers work to conserve and restore inland freshwater ecosystems to promote the
sustainable use of forests, develop conservation plans for differing ecosystems to integrate
ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, to provide training and
capacity building, and to work with national and local authorities to implement international
laws and conventions

 They work to restore organic matter to degraded soils and to

better integrate biofuels

 GOAL 16: PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS

 Peace, stability, human rights, and effective governance, based on the rule of law, are essential
for the hope of sustainable development

 Engineers work to secure the cyberspace and nuclear energy as well as assisting local and
national authorities with capacity building
 GOAL 17: PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS

 A successful sustainable development agenda requires partnerships between governments, the

private sector, and civil society

 Engineers place a significant emphasis upon developing inclusive partnerships based upon
shared principles and values

 They play an active role in the global partnership as practitioners of sustainable development
 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) & PARIS AGREEMENT
 PARIS AGREEMENT

 The Paris Agreement, which was adopted in 2015 at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21)
of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is a landmark
international agreement aimed at addressing climate change
 PARIS AGREEMENT

 Key points:

 1. Long-term goal: The agreement sets a long-term goal of keeping the global average temperature
increase well below 2 degrees Celsius (°C) above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the
temperature increase to 1.5°C. This ambitious objective aims to prevent dangerous anthropogenic
interference with the climate system.

 2. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Each participating country is required to submit its
own nationally determined contributions, outlining its efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and
adapt to the impacts of climate change. These contributions are intended to be nationally determined,
reflecting each country's unique circumstances, capabilities, and priorities.

 3. Mitigation efforts: The agreement emphasizes the need for countries to undertake robust efforts to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It encourages the use of renewable energy, energy efficiency
measures, sustainable land use practices, and other measures to transition to low-carbon economies.
Parties are encouraged to regularly communicate their efforts and progress in mitigating emissions.
 PARIS AGREEMENT

 Key points:

 4. Adaptation and resilience: The agreement recognizes the importance of enhancing

adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience, and reducing vulnerability to the impacts of
climate change. It calls for increased support for developing countries to undertake
adaptation measures and build climate resilience.

 5. Climate finance: Developed countries are urged to provide financial resources to

developing countries to assist them in both mitigation and adaptation efforts. The
agreement sets a target to mobilize $100 billion annually by 2020, from a variety of sources,
to address the needs of developing countries. This funding should be scaled up over time.

 6. Transparency and accountability: The Paris Agreement establishes a framework for

transparency and accountability. Parties are required to regularly report on their emissions
and implementation efforts, as well as provide information on financial and technological
support provided or received
 PARIS AGREEMENT

 Key points:

 7. Global stocktaking: The agreement mandates a global stocktaking process every five years to assess
the collective progress made towards achieving the agreement's goals. This process encourages
countries to continuously enhance their efforts over time.

 8. Technology transfer and capacity building: The agreement promotes international cooperation in
technology development and transfer to support climate action. It recognizes the importance of capacity
building, particularly for developing countries, to enable them to effectively implement climate-related
projects and policies.

 9. Loss and damage: The agreement recognizes the need to address the loss and damage associated
with the impacts of climate change, including the impacts of extreme weather events and slow-onset
events (sea level rise, desertification, etc.). It establishes the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss
and Damage to enhance understanding, coordination, support, and expertise in this area.

 The Paris Agreement represents a significant global effort to combat climate change and has
been ratified by a large number of countries, demonstrating international commitment to
addressing this critical issue
 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING PROFESSION

 Engineering and sustainable development are closely linked, with many aspects of sustainable
development depending directly and significantly on appropriate and timely actions by
engineers

 Products and services that engineers design provide the

interface between humans and environment so that all engineering

projects either contribute to sustainability or not

 The natural and man-made world is highly interconnected, so

that actions in one sphere can have unintended and unforeseen

consequences elsewhere

 Engineering solutions need to work within complicated systems,

and engineers should have a mindset that helps them understand

the overall situation and deal with unexpected changes and

 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING PROFESSION

 Engineers also work in multidisciplinary teams where they are involved with other specialists
and this means that they may or may not have control of, or be solely responsible for, a
particular project

 But, they should be engaged for preparing and presenting clear justifications to implement
more sustainable solutions that serve the public interest

 They should strive to understand and manage the

environmental aspects of projects that they are involved

with and need to learn to engage better with communities

 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING PROFESSION

 List of engineers’ preferable attributes for sustainable development:

 To “understand how engineers’ work interacts with society and the

environment, locally and globally, in order to identify potential challenges, risks, and

impacts”

 To “understand the contribution of their work in different cultural, social, and

political contexts and take those differences into account”

 To “work in multidisciplinary teams, in order to adapt current technology to the

demands imposed by sustainable lifestyles, resource efficiency, pollution prevention, and waste
management”

 To “apply a holistic and systemic approach to solving problems and the ability to move beyond the
tradition of breaking reality down into disconnected parts”

 Traditionally, problem-solving has often involved breaking down complex issues into smaller, more
manageable parts and addressing them individually. However, a holistic and systemic approach seeks to
understand the larger context and relationships between the different parts. It recognizes that changes in
one aspect of a system can have ripple effects throughout the entire system.
 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING PROFESSION

 List of engineers’ preferable attributes for sustainable development:

 To “participate actively in the discussion and definition of economic, social, and

technological policies to help redirect society towards more sustainable development”

 To “apply professional knowledge according to universal values and ethics”

 To “listen closely to the demands of citizens and other stakeholders and let them have a say
in the development of new technologies and infrastructures”
 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING PROFESSION

 A professional person such as an engineer is one who engages in an activity that requires a

specialized and comprehensive education and is motivated by a strong desire to serve humanity

 Professionalism is a way of life. True professionals are those who pursue their learned art in a spirit

of public service

 One of the common characteristics of a professional is that it has, as a result of specialized expertise, significant
power to affect individual clients and wider society

 This creates a critical role for ethics to guide decision-making

 It is clearly no longer possible to be a professional engineer and ignore the challenges and opportunities that
arise from the need to achieve sustainable development

 Often it will be – and should be – engineers who lead processes of making decisions about the

use of material, energy, and water resources, the development of infrastructure,

the design of new products, and so on

 It is an engineer’s responsibility to understand the consequences of

actions on projects in respect of their environmental and societal

 KEY ATTRIBUTES OF A GRADUATE ENGINEER

 It is critical that engineering graduates are equipped with the relevant

knowledge and skills to effectively address such challenges in society

 Graduate attributes are specific outcomes that can be evaluated individually

and indicate a graduate's potential to develop the necessary skills and abilities to practice at a
suitable level of competence

 The International Engineering Alliance (IEA) Graduate Attributes and Competences are the
foundation for the accreditation of engineering programs under the Washington Accord (WA)
(IEA, 2013)

 The Washington Accord is an international agreement among engineering accreditation bodies. It aims to establish
mutual recognition of engineering qualifications and promote the mobility and global recognition of engineering
graduates. The accord sets specific criteria and standards for the accreditation of engineering programs in
participating countries.

 To be recognized under the WA, the accreditation process must provide assurance that the
attributes of graduates of a signatory’s programs are substantially equivalent to the IEA graduate
 KEY ATTRIBUTES OF A GRADUATE ENGINEER

 Graduates are expected to be able to demonstrate both knowledge and

competencies

 In terms of knowledge profile, the expected level of knowledge is WK7:

“Comprehension of the role of engineering in society and identified issues in

engineering practice in the discipline: ethics and the professional responsibility of an engineer to public
safety; the impacts of engineering activity: economic, social, cultural, environmental and sustainability.”

 Thus, engineering graduates from all programs accredited under the IEA WA can be expected
to have an understanding of sustainability in the context of engineering practice in their field

 Linked to this knowledge profile, the graduate attribute or competency is “Understand and
evaluate the sustainability and impact of professional engineering work in the solution of complex
engineering problems in societal and environmental contexts (WA7).”

 Engineering students should develop this competency through all projects undertaken during
their studies
 KEY ATTRIBUTES OF A GRADUATE ENGINEER

 1. Technical expertise:

 Graduate engineers possess in-depth technical knowledge and expertise in their respective

fields

 This expertise allows them to design and implement innovative solutions that promote

sustainability

 They understand the complexities of engineering systems and can apply their knowledge to develop
sustainable infrastructure, technologies, and processes

 2. Systems thinking:

 Engineers are trained to think in a holistic and systems-oriented manner

 They consider the interconnections and interdependencies within complex systems and

evaluate the broader impacts of their decisions

 This approach is essential for addressing sustainability challenges, as it helps identify

potential environmental, social, and economic consequences of engineering projects and initiatives
 KEY ATTRIBUTES OF A GRADUATE ENGINEER

 3. Problem-solving skills:

 Graduate engineers are equipped with strong analytical and problem-solving skills

 They can identify and analyze complex problems, evaluate alternative solutions, and develop

strategies to address them

 This ability to tackle sustainability challenges through evidence-based decision-making is crucial for
promoting sustainable development

 4. Innovation and creativity:

 Engineers are inherently innovative and creative in their approach

 They are continuously seeking new and improved solutions to existing problems

 This mindset is particularly valuable for advancing sustainable development by

developing and implementing new technologies, processes, and designs that minimize

environmental impact, optimize resource use, and enhance efficiency

 KEY ATTRIBUTES OF A GRADUATE ENGINEER

 5. Ethical responsibility:

 The graduate engineering profession emphasizes ethical conduct and responsibility

 Engineers are expected to adhere to professional ethics and codes of conduct, which often

include considerations for environmental stewardship and social equity

 They are conscious of their responsibilities towards society and strive to make decisions that prioritize
sustainability, safety, and the well-being of communities

 6. Collaboration and interdisciplinary approach:

 Sustainable development requires collaboration across disciplines and sectors

 Graduate engineers are well-versed in collaborating with professionals from other

fields, such as environmental scientists, architects, policymakers, and social scientists

 They are skilled at bridging the gap between technical knowledge and societal needs,

and can work effectively in interdisciplinary teams to achieve sustainable outcomes

 KEY ATTRIBUTES OF A GRADUATE ENGINEER

 7. Lifecycle thinking:

 Graduate engineers embrace life cycle thinking, which involves considering the entire

lifecycle of a product, process or system

 They evaluate the environment and social impacts throughout a product’s life, from raw

material extraction to disposal

 This approach enables engineers to identify opportunities for reducing environmental footprints,

optimizing resource use, and promoting circular economy principles

 8. Continuous learning and adaptability:

 Engineering is ever-evolving, with new technologies, regulations, and sustainability practices emerging
regularly

 Graduate engineers demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning and staying updated on the latest
developments in sustainable engineering practices

 They adapt their skills and knowledge to integrate new sustainability practices into their work
 KEY CONCEPTS FOR SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING –

FACTOR 4 AND FACTOR 10: THE GOALS OF SUSTAINABILITY

 Magnitude of sustainability challenge provided by the Ehrlich and Holdrens (1971) Master
Equation (or IPAT Equation):

 Environmental Impact = Population x Affluence x Technology

 Environmental impact = Population x (GDP/Person) x (Environmental

impact/Unit of GDP)
 where GDP is a country’s gross domestic product, a measure of economic activity

 This equation has traditionally been called the IPAT equation where I = Environmental Impact, P =
Population, A = Affluence or material standard of living (GDP/person), and T = Technology
(environmental impact/unit of GDP)

 The third term in the master equation – T or the environmental impact per unit of GDP – is an
expression of the degree to which technology is available to permit development without serious
environmental impact
 KEY CONCEPTS FOR SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING –

FACTOR 4 AND FACTOR 10: THE GOALS OF SUSTAINABILITY

 If our aim is to maintain the environmental impact of humanity to its present level, we need to
look at the probable trends in the three terms of the equation

 The first will likely increase by a factor of 1.5 over the next 50 years, while the second is predicted
to likely increase by a factor of 2 to 3 over the same time period

 Accordingly, to just maintain the level of environmental impact to what it is today, the third term
must decrease by 65–80%

 The technology factor must decrease 4–10 times to counterbalance the expected growth in
population and material consumption

 This is the inspiration for calls for factor 4 or factor 10 reductions in environmental impact per
unit of economic activity
 KEY CONCEPTS FOR SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING –

FACTOR 4 AND FACTOR 10: THE GOALS OF SUSTAINABILITY

 Factor 4 encapsulates the idea that natural resources can be used four times more efficiently in all
spheres of daily life, either by generating more goods, services, and quality of life from the
available resources, or by using fewer resources to maintain the same standard

 Aims to double the productivity of resources while halving their consumption

 The goal is to achieve the same level of output or service with only one-fourth of the resources typically used

 This can be achieved through various means, including technological advancements, process optimization, and
adopting sustainable practices

 Example: Improving energy efficiency in buildings by

implementing energy-efficient design strategies, optimizing

insulation, using efficient lighting and HVAC systems, and

adopting renewable energy technologies

 KEY CONCEPTS FOR SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING –

FACTOR 4 AND FACTOR 10: THE GOALS OF SUSTAINABILITY

 Factor 10 evolved from the concept of factor 4 taking into consideration that in the long term,
resource use in developed countries, which are currently overconsuming resources, needs to be
decreased by a factor of 10 to approach sustainability

 Takes the idea of resource efficiency a step further by aiming for a tenfold increase in resource productivity

 Seeks to achieve ten times more output or benefit with the same amount of

resources used

 This concept promotes radical resource efficiency improvements and the

adoption of sustainable practices that minimize waste and maximize resource

utilization

 Example: Development of electric vehicles (EVs) - EVs offer the potential to

achieve a tenfold reduction in energy consumption compared to conventional

internal combustion engine vehicles

 KEY CONCEPTS FOR SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING –

FACTOR 4 AND FACTOR 10: THE GOALS OF SUSTAINABILITY

 It's important to note that achieving Factor 4 or Factor 10 requires collaboration and involvement
from various stakeholders, including governments, industries, and individuals

 It may involve implementing policy changes, adopting sustainable business models, and
changing consumer behavior to support and drive the necessary transformations
 KEY CONCEPTS FOR SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING –

LIFE CYCLE THINKING (LCT)

 LCT extends the boundaries of the production site and manufacturing processes to include
environmental, social, and economic impacts of a product over its entire life cycle

 With this approach, we aim to reduce a product’s resource use and

emissions to the environment as well as improve its socioeconomic performance

through its life cycle

 Through this approach, negative impacts are minimized while avoiding burden

shifting between life cycle stages or between environmental impacts

 When applied to product design, production processes, and as a decision-making

tool, LCT is an important concept for devising and implementing effective sustainability

strategies
 KEY CONCEPTS FOR SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING –

LIFE CYCLE THINKING (LCT) – Importance in Sustainable Engineering

 1. Comprehensive Assessment:

 Life cycle thinking allows for a comprehensive assessment of the environmental impacts associated with a product or
system. By considering all stages, including resource extraction, energy consumption, emissions, waste generation,
and disposal, engineers can identify the key environmental burdens and focus on areas where improvements are most
needed

 2. Identifying Hotspots:

 Life cycle assessment (LCA), a tool used in life cycle thinking, enables engineers to identify hotspots or stages of the
life cycle with the highest environmental impact. This information helps prioritize efforts to reduce environmental
burdens and guide design decisions that target those specific areas. For example, if the production stage is found to
have the highest impact, engineers can focus on optimizing manufacturing processes, material selection, and energy
efficiency.
 KEY CONCEPTS FOR SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING –

LIFE CYCLE THINKING (LCT) – Importance in Sustainable Engineering

 3. Avoiding Shifting Burdens:

 Life cycle thinking helps prevent the shifting of environmental burdens from one life cycle stage to another or
from one environmental impact category to another. It prompts engineers to consider the unintended
consequences of their decisions and avoid simply transferring the problem from one stage to another. For
example, reducing greenhouse gas emissions during the use phase of a product but increasing water pollution
during the manufacturing phase would not be a sustainable solution

 4. Systematic Decision-Making:

 Life cycle thinking facilitates systematic decision-making by considering the trade-offs and impacts across the
entire life cycle. It helps engineers evaluate different design alternatives and select the most sustainable option
based on a holistic assessment of environmental, social, and economic factors. Engineers can compare different
materials, energy sources, manufacturing processes, and disposal methods to make informed decisions that
minimize overall environmental impact
 KEY CONCEPTS FOR SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING –

LIFE CYCLE THINKING (LCT) – Importance in Sustainable Engineering

 5. Continuous Improvement:

 Life cycle thinking encourages a mindset of continuous improvement. By analyzing the life cycle impacts,
engineers can identify opportunities for reducing resource consumption, improving energy efficiency,
promoting recycling and reuse, and minimizing waste generation. This approach supports the development of
more sustainable products and systems over time
 KEY CONCEPTS FOR SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING –

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

 An alternative to a traditional linear economy (make, use, dispose) is a circular economy, in which
we keep resources in use for as long as possible, extract the maximum value from them whilst in
use, then recover and regenerate products and materials at the end of each service life

 One key aspect of the circular economy is the reusability of products through activities to extend
the lifespan along the value chain, such as repairing, reusing, refurbishing, reconditioning, and
remanufacturing as well as recyclability of raw materials

 In such an economy, production strategies and business

models need to be redesigned by manufacturers to allow for

more durable, reparable, and recyclable products

 KEY CONCEPTS FOR SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING –

CIRCULAR ECONOMY – Goals

 1. Resource Efficiency:

 The circular economy aims to maximize the value and utility derived from resources by keeping them in use for as
long as possible. It seeks to optimize resource consumption and reduce waste through recycling, reusing, and
remanufacturing

 2. Waste reduction:

 By closing the loop and promoting the reuse and recycling of materials, the circular economy aims to minimize waste
generation. It seeks to eliminate or reduce the disposal of materials into landfills and incineration, reducing the
environmental impact of waste

 3. Environmental Sustainability:

 The circular economy focuses on regenerating natural systems and preserving ecosystem health. It aims to minimize
resource depletion, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to the overall sustainability of our planet
 KEY CONCEPTS FOR SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING –

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

 The awareness and engagement of consumers are raised to change consumption patterns and to
increase demand for reused products and services

 All actors (businesses, people, and organisms) are part of a network in which the actions of one
actor impact other actors

 Supported by a transition to renewable energy sources, the circular economy builds economic,
natural, and social capital by designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials
in use and regenerating natural systems
 TUTORIAL QUESTIONS

 Search the internet for an example of a major collapse of a culture in the past due
to unsustainable behavior.

 Write a paragraph of 250 words in which you explain what climate change means
for the country in which you live. You can refer to the specific Nationally
Determined Contribution (NDC) of your country.

 Choose a specific field of engineering (civil or chemical or mechanical or

electrical/electronic, etc.) and discuss how it can help meet the SDGs.
 QUIZ

 How much % of a mobile phone can be recycled?

 70%

 90%

 10%

 5%
 QUIZ

 Which country consumes the most energy in the world?

 USA

 Canada

 China

 Russia
 QUIZ

 Which of the following sources of energy is not renewable?

 Petroleum

 Hydropower

 Biomass

 Solar Power
 QUIZ

 A typical glass bottle would take ____ years or more to decompose.

 400

 4000

 500

 100
 QUIZ

 Which country currently emits the most greenhouse gases?

 India

 Malaysia

 Taiwan

 China
 QUIZ

 A five minute shower is equal to approximately how many liters of water?

 100-150 liters

 60-100 liters

 200-250 liters

 250-300 liters
 QUIZ

 Ozone is formed in the ____

 Mesosphere

 Stratosphere

 Thermosphere

 Atmosphere
 QUIZ

 When was the first news of the ozone hole first published?

 1984

 1985

 1986

 1987
 QUIZ

 Which greenhouse gas traps the most heat?

 Methane

 Gasoline

 Hydrogen

 Nitrogen