Managing engineering for a sustainable future

Sustainable development demands that we seek ways of living, working and being that enable all peoples of the world to lead healthy, fulfilling and economically secure lives, without destroying the environment and without endangering the future welfare of the planet. It requires fundamental structural and behavioural transformation in all aspects of life to ensure equitable solutions to the world´s most pressing problems. Sustainable development, therefore, goes beyond simple environmental protection and improvement. From a technological perspective, it requires that we explore the values underpinning our technologies and technological decision making processes, both within engineering and within society as a whole, to determine what role technology has in our future, not imply as the ´saviour´ or ´villain´ of our problems, but as a beneficial, integral part of our lives. What is the role of the engineer in this transformational process? How can we change our education, training and policy-making processes to help shape a sustainable future? This article sets out an agenda for change that addresses these questions. It forms the basis of the contribution engineers should make to a sustainable future. The article is a synthesis of the ideas, views and values of a cross-section of the membership of the IEE from Ethiopia, Australia, Portugal, South Africa, Nigeria, Hong Kong and Australia, as well as the USA and UK.