Engineering Council CEO Paul Bailey has given his support to a newly published report that presents a common, achievable sustainability ambition, alongside guidance to support the transition to sustainable practices across the education sector and society.

Speaking at the QAA’s Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRB) Forum on 30 May, Paul said: “The Engineering Council is pleased to contribute to such a positive event and to see the resulting actions moving the sustainability agenda forward. Sustainability has been part of the engineering Standards since at least the 1980s and has progressively strengthened to the point that understanding the principles of sustainability is embedded in the definition of what it means to be a professionally registered engineer or technician.  With the expectation that this emphasis will increase even further through the continuing development of our Standards and guidance, the St George’s House report sets out some clear action areas that the Engineering Council and other PSRBs need to work on together in order to ensure professionals are enabling society to live sustainably.”

The report follows a consultation event at St George’s House in February 2024, where representatives from PSRBs, young people, education organisations and employers came together to explore ways to mobilise greater sustainability education uptake.

The education sector has a critical role in contributing to national and international sustainability goals, not just in STEM subjects but across all disciplines and professions. The need for enhancing education for sustainable development (ESD) competences through the education sector is high and widely recognised. This work also supports the UK government commitment of achieving net zero by 2050 and of achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The report can be read on the St George’s House website.