Engineers for a sustainable future

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Prashant Prabhu: Sep 17 2012, 03:58 IST

Ever since the invention of the wheel, mankind has been racing towards development. The pace of the wheel has guided us through centuries on the road to mobility. Today, with a global vehicle population of about 800 million, the challenges we face are enormous. Some of these challenges include scarcity of fossil fuels as well as increased urban pollution. The Brundtland Report defines the concept of sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Engineers will play a pivotal role in ensuring we are able to keep the balance between industrial performance and environmental protection.

Over the past 150 years, engineering and technology have transformed the world in which we live, contributing to significantly longer life expectancy and enhanced quality of life for a large number of people. The global population is growing and becoming increasingly urban. The demand for mobility, private vehicles and energy is burgeoning. Emissions of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, are on the rise. For mobility to remain sustainable, solutions for mass urban and non-polluting transportation need to be found—this is a collective call to arms for engineers around the world.

The current situation presents challenges and opportunities for engineers. Working together closely, the engineering force can provide leadership by developing new concepts and convincing stakeholders/policymakers to support them. Technology alone is not enough. Engineers also need to determine how best to accelerate the pace of innovation and, in doing so, rapidly deliver

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