UN SDGs and the Engineer

Click on the image above to visit the UN SDG website where you can find out about each of the goals, targets for meeting them and progress to date.

Visiting Professor Catriona Schmolke FREng writes:


There are three reasons you as the engineer should take notice of the UN SDGs:

 

“To realise the 2030 Agenda, contributions are needed from all stakeholders: governments, civil society, the private sector and others.”

 As an engineer you should be able to articulate the purpose of the UN SDG’s. Engineering will be at the heart of developing solutions which contribute positively to the goals. In addition to the UN SDGs there is another important framework which you should be aware of as an engineer and that is the Environment Social and Governance (ESG) Framework.


“ESG is a framework used to assess an organisation's business practices and performance on various sustainable and ethical issues."

There is clear overlap of the ESG and the intention of the UN SDGs. For example, and not exclusively, the E of ESG aligns well with UN SDG numbers 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. The S of ESG aligns with UN SDG numbers 3, 4, 5, 8, and 10.

Many organisations adopt specific UN SDGs in developing their ESG strategy. For example: a company with a heavy water use may align with UN SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation; or a product producer will align with UN SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production.  As an engineer you should be curious as to the ESG commitments of an employer, their purpose and chosen UN SDGs. This will give an overview of their core values and morals.

Your voice as the engineer can be the catalyst to making a positive difference to sustainable development. 

See how engineers can contribute to each of the Sustainable Development Goals:

1 - No poverty

Engineers can help eliminate poverty by designing affordable and accessible infrastructure and technologies that improve people's standard of living.

2 - Zero hunger

Engineers can drive agricultural innovation to increase food production and reduce food waste, engineering sustainable farming practices and designing efficient supply chain systems.

3 - Good health and well-being

Engineers can design medical and health technologies that improve access to affordable healthcare and promote healthy lifestyles.

4 - Quality education

Engineers can improve access to quality education by designing innovative educational solutions and leveraging e-learning technologies.

5 - Gender equality

Engineers can help raise awareness about gender bias and design gender-sensitive infrastructure and technologies that promote equality and empower women.

6 - Clean water and sanitation

Engineers can design new water technologies and infrastructure to provide safe and accessible water and sanitation systems that help communities thrive without polluting the environment.

7 - Affordable and clean energy

Engineers can help develop renewable and affordable energy solutions that reduce dependency on fossil fuels and contribute towards the achievement of Sustainable Development.

8 - Decent work and economic growth

Engineers can play a critical role in developing cost-efficient solutions and infrastructure that stimulates economic growth and generates decent jobs and income opportunities.

9 - Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Engineers can drive innovation in industry and infrastructure by designing sustainable technologies and increasing connectivity through digital and transportation infrastructure to support sustainable development.

10 - Reduced inequalities

Engineers can help design inclusive infrastructure and technologies that reduce inequality, create more opportunities for marginalized people and encourage participation in activities supporting sustainable development.

11 - Sustainable cities and communities

Engineers can design efficient and reliable urban infrastructure (transport systems, water supply, waste management, etc.) that supports the sustainable development of cities.

12 - Responsible consumption and production

Engineers can design sustainable and efficient manufacturing processes that reduce wastage and contribute to responsible consumption and the protection of the environment.

13 - Climate action

Engineers can help address climate change by developing sustainable solutions, reducing carbon emissions, increasing energy efficiency and building resilience to the changing climate.

14 - Life below water

Engineers can develop sustainable ocean engineering solutions that promotes the conservation of marine ecosystems and species.

15 - Life on land

Engineers can design sustainable land management practices as well as develop solutions to address habitat loss, desertification, and deforestation caused by human activities.

16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Engineers can contribute to the creation of stable and equitable governance structures, infrastructure that supports fair and transparent legal systems, and humanitarian aid logistics systems to build more peaceful and just societies.

17 - Partnerships for the goals

Engineers can work toward achieving these goals by partnering with other organisations and stakeholders, sharing knowledge and resources for greater collective impact.

As a student, or professional engineer, you would not be expected to be contributing to all of the SDGs. You may work towards four or five over the course of a degree programme.

The "SDG Wedding Cake"

The illustration describes how economies and societies should be seen as embedded parts of the biosphere. This vision is a move away from the current sectoral approach where social, economic, and ecological development are seen as separate parts.

Click on the image to see the designer, Johan Rockström,  speak about the development of this new take on the SDGs. [This video is on YouTube: a new window will open]

Johan Rockström, Azote for Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University 

CC BY-ND 3.0

Can you complete the Sustainability Development Goals in this online game?