Sustainable engineering – ECUK guides the profession

Dr Brian Iddon MP, member of the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee, yesterday hosted the launch at the House of Commons of the Engineering Council UK’s (ECUK) important new ‘Guidance on Sustainability for the Engineering Profession’. A key milestone in the development of the profession, the guidance provides coherent direction for engineers, and provides a public declaration of the profession’s commitment to sustainability through engineering. The launch was attended by over 100 people from across the engineering profession.

The ECUK guidelines describe engineers’ leadership role in sustainability and list six simple, but inspirational, principles to guide and motivate them to bring about sustainable development through their work. Each of the interdependent principles is of equal importance, with economic and social aspects included as well as those related to the environment. They are highly relevant for today’s professionals and the current challenges they face, whilst also taking account of the needs of future generations.

Professor Kel Fidler, Chairman of ECUK said, “Professional engineers have a significant role to play in sustainability and should be the providers of options and solutions to maximise social value and minimise environmental impact. These principles will guide engineers in meeting their professional obligations to promote sustainability, and ensure that it is integrated into all their engineering activity.”

‘Guidance on Sustainability for the Engineering Profession’ has been produced in response to indications from Professional Engineering Institutions (PEIs) that they would welcome such guidelines, and is designed to complement information on aspects of sustainability already published by some PEIs.

“I am very excited to be involved in the launch of this important guidance,” said Professor David Bogle, who chaired the working group that produced the guidelines. “It is the product of bringing together representatives from across the profession, who between them possess considerable experience in a wide range of engineering disciplines, as well as sustainability expertise. A number of PEIs were also instrumental in its development, either directly as part of the group or through the provision of materials.”

Dr Brian Iddon MP said, “Engineering can play a major part in solving global problems such as climate change, food and water supply, energy security and economic stability. These six principles will help the public to understand how important engineering is in securing our future.”

The new publication replaces and updates the code of practice ‘Engineers and the Environment’ published by the Engineering Council in 1993.

In keeping with the ethos of sustainability ECUK has avoided printing a large quantity of the guidance document, but an electronic version can be downloaded from www.engc.org.uk/sustainability. In addition, ECUK has produced handy wallet size cards for engineers, listing the six principles. These can be obtained from info@engc.org.uk.

ENDS …

Note to editors

About Engineering Council UK
ECUK holds the national register of Chartered Engineers (CEng), Incorporated Engineers (IEng), Engineering Technicians (EngTech) and Information and Communication Technology Technicians (ICTTech). It also sets and maintains the internationally recognised standards of competence and ethics that govern the award and retention of these titles. By this means it is able to ensure that employers, government and wider society – both at home and overseas – can have confidence in the skills and commitment of registrants. To apply for the CEng, IEng, EngTech or ICTTech titles an individual must be a member of one of the 36 engineering institutions and societies currently licensed by ECUK to assess candidates. Applicants must demonstrate that they possess a range of technical and personal competences and are also committed to keeping these up-to-date, and to behaving in a professionally and socially responsible manner. For more information visit: www.engc.org.uk

Contact for press enquiries and image requests
Sue Brough, Communications Manager, Engineering Council UK, 246 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EX, tel: 020 3206 0574, email: sbrough@engc.org.uk.

(L to R) Dr Brian Iddon MP, Professor Kel Fidler, ECUK’s Chairman, Professor David Bogle, Chairman of ECUK’s Sustainability Working Group and Professor Michael Kelly, Chief Scientific Adviser, Dept for Communities and Local Government , at the House of Commons launch of ECUK’s ‘Guidance on Sustainability for the Engineering Profession’.