The world's response to climate change looks a bit like a massive, slow-turning vessel striving to outpace an encroaching storm. Clouds are mustering on the horizon, growing denser and more foreboding, but our course remains unchanged - a collective reluctance to veer from our set path.
While governments, regional authorities, and significant infrastructure operators are responding to climate change by committing to reduce emissions over the coming decades, with many targeting a 2050 date, progress at large is slow. We know that failure to curb global greenhouse emissions could result in temperatures rising by above three degrees Celsius by 2100, leading to further irreversible damage to our ecosystems. While there are positive moves toward reducing emissions, with 136 countries setting target dates, only 26 of these (approximately 19%) have plans in place to meet their targets.
Recharting our course, however, starts with collaboration.
The International Federation of Consulting Engineers’ (FIDIC) wields global influence in the infrastructure sector. Recognising the footprint that consulting engineers leave on global society through their work in transport, energy, water and other areas of critical infrastructure, FIDIC’s Global Leadership Forum released a white paper in 2023 to encourage the industry to elevate its approach to decarbonisation across project lifecycles. The paper aims to tangibly contribute to achieving the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees.
Addressing our shared climate change challenge requires us to move from aspiration to action and to transcend corporate self-interest. We need to shift instead towards proactive and altruistic collaboration across the entire infrastructure landscape – our customers, clients, corporations, professions, and governments. Past practices driven by short-term gains must give way to a culture of shared wisdom and best practices leading to lasting, real-world impact on emissions.
There is an example in the Australian Constructors Association recently joining forces with private sector peak bodies and Federal Government agencies to launch an ‘Infrastructure Net Zero’ joint initiative. Such alignment between public and private sectors is a critical step for the sector to reach net zero emissions.
Consulting engineers would also benefit from a standardised approach to data and databases to inform decisions and enable the comparison of alternative designs and performance benchmarking. Such standardisation could be the catalyst for exploring innovative materials that align with sustainable practices. Consulting firms compete vigorously for work; that is healthy but should not preclude sharing of best practices and successful innovation leading to better infrastructure outcomes.
Collaboration requires engineers to act as navigators, guiding clients through choppy or uncharted waters.
Infrastructure projects are expansive and intricate and leave an indelible mark on our environment over their lifecycle. I believe our industry can take a more assertive role in educating clients and project sponsors on the impacts of climate change and how good project design can mitigate climate risk. Think of it as a seasoned navigator illuminating the route and potential obstacles.
This approach will mean interrogating project briefs more robustly and, where necessary, urging clients to embed sustainability concerns more firmly. Many clients will embrace this dialogue, others will need to be persuaded. But through the exchange of insights and best practices we are in a unique position to guide clients to a more sustainable future, pushing the agenda project-by-project.
Our role extends to addressing problems at the source, not merely providing a remedy for the symptoms.
Take transport, one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions globally. As we approach 2050, cities around the world need to play their part in prioritising sustainable, convenient, and affordable commuting alternatives. My own firm, Arcadis, is part of a three-year partnership with the Atlanta Regional Commission’s (ARC) Georgia Commute Options (GCO) program to deliver transportation demand management solutions.
The GCO program seeks to ease demand for the number of single-occupant vehicles on Atlanta’s roads by making available sustainable and affordable commuting options. It’s an exciting example of how we can use technology to change existing behaviour, thereby reducing demand and abating the need for expensive new infrastructure.
Education should be our guiding star.
Comprehensive training for engineers is a must if our industry is to take the lead in navigating the complexities of climate change.
Engineering degrees have traditionally treated sustainability design principles as an optional or ad-hoc discipline. It is time now for the principles of low-carbon design to be embedded throughout all aspects of an engineering degree. Nor should this learning cease upon graduation; engineers will need ongoing training and professional development if they are to be equipped to adapt to climate-induced challenges. Consulting firms must shoulder this responsibility, continually upskilling their engineers on the evolving landscape of sustainable practices.
Arcadis has introduced our own Sustain Abilities Program to integrate sustainability into everything we do as a firm, regardless of an employee’s role. Centralised training enables 36,000 Arcadians to get informed, equipped, and empowered on sustainability issues, drawing on subject-matter experts across our business. This training, which bridges theory and hands-on experience, should empower our engineers and give them the confidence to guide their clients toward more sustainable project outcomes.
It is time for engineers to step up and help pilot the way forward.
The world is looking to our industry for guidance in steering away from the impending climate storm. As consulting engineers, trained to solve our clients’ most challenging problems, we grapple with a global imperative that demands immediate action and a pronounced shift from business as normal. Technical responses alone will not be enough - the solution also requires proactivity, education, collaboration and above all, accepting the unique responsibility our industry has.
