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Project will provide guidance to international engineering institutions to encourage them to write energy strategies for their own nations in order to tackle climate change
A network of UK and Danish engineering organisations are embarking on the next phase of a project designed to encourage international engineering institutions to work with their respective governments on their country’s engineering-based climate and energy plans. These aim to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases to a sustainable level, defined as limiting global temperature increase to 2°C.
The Future Climate – Engineering Solutions (FC–ES) project is designed to work together with national governments to develop, share and implement best practice in developing plans, for the period up to the year 2050.
The initiative was established by The Danish Society of Engineers (IDA) in 2009, ahead of the Conference of the Parties to the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change. The IDA recognised that there was a gap between climate science and public policy which needed to be filled by engineers presenting practical and affordable solutions.
Now in its fourth phase, the project will focus on increasing the global network to enable more countries to participate. Led by Andy Webster and Alex Howe with a partnership of UK Engineering Institutions, this phase will bring together participating countries at a symposium on energy and climate plans, to help make each country’s commitments a reality.
Thomas Damkjær Petersen, Chairman of the Danish Society of Engineers said:
"When we had the idea in 2008 to bring the engineering voice alongside the existing voices in driving change for our climate, we had no idea where this journey would take us. As we start the 4th phase with this report, I'm extremely proud that we continue to bring that voice, and that Danish engineers alongside engineers from across the world continue to bring practical, tested, and understood ideas to the public, to interested parties and to governments”
Dr Alison Cooke, Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineering said:
“I was so inspired by FC-ES in 2009 that I offered to lead FC-ES into another Phase and was Chair from 2011-2013. In the aftermath of the UN Paris Agreement, there is a need more than ever for engineers to come alongside governments and help with evidence-based policy-making. This is the vision of FC-ES.”
Beatriz Fernandez, Consultant at the United Nations Environment Programme said:
“The strength of Future Climate - Engineering Solutions lies in driving collaboration between governments, policy makers and science. The opportunity we had at COP21 to present FC-ES was an exciting experience that clearly indicated this project is so needed to advance the climate change agenda. I am excited to see what FC-ES can bring and help deliver to tackle climate change.”
Jacob Ohrvik-Stott, MEng, Member Institution of Chemical Engineers said:
“Overcoming climate change is the foremost challenge for engineers in the 21st century. Targets for the reduction of carbon emissions have been set at around 80% for developed nations and the UK government has adopted targets that will require a 57% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
“Such a radical change needs well thought-through, clearly defined plans and for engineers to come together to support each other in order to meet the aims set out in the UN’s Paris Agreement. If we are to transition to a low-carbon society, then engineers will play a vital role in providing practical and proven solutions.”