In recognition of World Engineering Day on Thursday 4th March, UNESCO released its report, entitled Engineering for Sustainable Development. As noted in the Executive Summary, engineering plays a key role in ‘connecting social needs with appropriate technological innovation and commercial applications1‘. In other words, where there is a disaster or the recent global pandemic, engineering assets are often the lever to prise society to recovery.
Let’s shine a spotlight on a few of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
- SDG6 – Clean water and Sewage Systems
Engineers and asset management specialists work to ensure water and sewage systems operate efficiently and reliably, as well as drive new innovations in water treatment.
- SDG7 – Affordable and Clean Energy
Energy is an asset-intensive sector, and providing electricity generation is essential for better living standards and economic growth.
- SDG9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Roads, railways, ports, and communications are assets which are the work of civil, mechanical and industrial engineers. Innovations in AI, big data and cloud-based communications drive communities towards economic growth.
- SDG10 – Reduced Inequalities
A push to develop technologies that empower women to increase their participation in the workforce and address chronic gender-based economic inequalities will drive communities to a sustainable future.
- SDG13 – Climate Action
Renewable energy solutions and assets provide society with low-cost power options as well as zero-carbon emissions, which contributes to a greener, cleaner world2.
For a full copy of the UNESCO report, please click here.
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1 Sourced: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000375634.locale=en
2 All SDGs sourced: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000375634.locale=en