Facilitating Sustainable Development: Role of Engineer

In order to ensure sustainable development this paper urges new thinking by engineers, outlines how engineers can help to serve the private sector, discusses how engineers can influence the public sector, and recommends funding methods for the proposed programs. It is pointed out that a new approach to both training and to the attitude of engineers is necessary so that they may be able to apply a broader view of projects, both at the outset and during the project, if environmental considerations are to be fully considered. The paper emphasizes that civil engineers must cooperate with engineers of other specialties, contractors, scientists, and the general public to secure the legislation necessary for sustainable development. Equally, engineers have a duty to speak out and to have their views included in the public debate. The writer also concludes that for the World Engineering Partnership for Sustainable Development to be successful, it will need the support of all the many organizations with whom it must collaborate.