Engineers Australia releases 2021 Climate Change Position Statement

Engineers Australia has released its 2021 Climate Change Position Statement ahead of its inaugural CSE conference and COP26. The statement replaces the 2014 Climate Change Policy as Engineers Australia’s overarching position on this critical issue. It enjoys strong support from Engineers Australia’s member leadership and is signed by all College Chairs, as well as Technical Society representatives and Young Engineers Australia.

The statement calls on governments, investors, the private sector and the wider community to work with the engineering profession to accelerate engineering innovation for a swift transition to a sustainable economy on a number of practical initiatives. This includes improved education and training for members, the engineering team and community on climate change, resilience and sustainability.

These initiatives will support engineers in their ethical responsibility to tackle climate change and to proudly deliver the trusted products, assets and services that are the foundation for our future wellbeing.

As the profession’s peak body, the statement is strongly focused on the importance of engineers in ensuring an effective and efficient response to climate change. It is intended to encourage and facilitate increased engagement among engineers on the transition to a net zero emissions society.

Limiting warming to 1.5°C, with an 83% likelihood of success, is the best case described by the IPCC. According to the statement, this case “requires achievement of net zero by 2033 assuming a linear reduction in emissions (from 2022, assuming 2021 annual greenhouse gas emissions are 40Gt/year)”.

The statement concludes that “such a low probability of success is unacceptable in any engineering code” and “the window for acting within engineering risk parameters has already closed”.

Engineers Australia understands that the “net zero by 2050” scenario for meeting the 1.5°C Paris climate goal includes a temperature overshoot, which then requires a substantial drawdown of atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHG) using technologies not yet developed.

“Immediate action at pace and scale must occur to minimise climate disruption. This includes rapid reductions in GHG emissions and adaptation to improve the resilience of communities, the environment and infrastructure.”

The full statement can be read here.

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