The Principle of Engineering

for Sustainable Development

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

How do we go from here…
…to somewhere here?
Cost of pollution
What is Sustainability…?
 Definition of Sustainable Development

• "Sustainable development is development that meets

the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs".
(Gro Harlem Brundtland,1987)
• It contains within it two key concepts:
– the concept of 'needs', in particular the essential needs of
the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given;
and
– the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology
and social organization on the environment's ability to meet
present and future needs."
 Engineers and
Sustainable Development

• Engineers can help achieve sustainable development

by providing sustainable technological solutions
• However, the challenge of sustainable development
transcends traditional engineering approaches and
skills and requires a multidisciplinary approach
• Collaboration between engineers and other
disciplines is essential for providing sustainable
solutions
 Modern or ‘composite’ engineer:
Set of skills for engineering sustainability
Engineering for sustainable
development:
The three dimensions
 The challenge

• Translating the theory of sustainable

development into engineering practice
• Integrating technical, economic, environmental
and social considerations – sustainability
thinking
The scope of the challenge
Systems approach: Life cycle thinking
 Addressing sustainability challenges:
Examples

• Measuring sustainability
• Designing for sustainability
• Optimising for sustainability
 Conclusions

• The sustainability challenge is enormous

• Providing technological solutions is an
important part of achieving sustainable
development
• This requires integration of technical,
economic, environmental and social criteria
• The life cycle approach is essential
• Focusing on a limited number of sustainability
issues can lead to unsustainable decisions
 Conclusions cont’d...

• To achieve sustainability, engineers will need

to combine ‘hard’ science with ‘soft’ human
values
• Therefore, multidisciplinary approach is
essential
• However, for this to happen, engineering
education and curriculum must change to
enable engineering sustainability