8 powerful things civil engineers do to address climate change

Originally published 18 August 2023.

With the effect that the built environment has on our planet, civil engineers find themselves in a position to tilt the scales towards a more sustainable future.

And since it’s such a diverse profession, there are plenty of ways in which engineers can take positive climate action.

Below are just a few that our members have highlighted.

1. Reducing carbon

One of the most significant ways civil engineers can take positive climate action is by reducing the amount of carbon in their projects.

The built environment is responsible for 40% of the UK’s carbon emissions. This includes:

• Embodied: the carbon emitted during the construction of a project
• Operational: the carbon emitted once the building is in use (maintenance, management, etc.)

There’s been a greater focus on reducing embodied carbon, as Lucie Killen, structural engineer at Price & Myers, has noted.

“It’s becoming a much more important parameter in any structural design, and that thinking allows for more efficient and sustainable structures.

“It’s always a challenge, and there isn't a simple answer on how to achieve low carbon design, but it’s an opportunity to be more creative and reduce the impact we have on the environment,” she says.

Designing efficiently, using low-carbon materials and recycling are just some of the ways Eleanor Ball’s team at Graphic Structures aims to reduce its embodied carbon.

They’re also fans of Passivhaus, a low carbon, performance-based building standard.

2. Taking part in important conversations

Civil engineers have the expert technical knowledge that world leaders need to make sustainable decisions.

Therefore, it’s the engineers’ duty to speak up and share what they know in these forums.

Evangelos Pastras, senior energy storage consultant at DNV, does his part by leading the Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition Youth Action Group (CSET Youth).

This group represents young professionals working to accelerate the sustainable energy transition.

Joining him as co-lead for some time was past President’s Future Leader, Micheala Chan, who's also a member of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations’ Young Engineers Working Group on climate action.

3. Making our infrastructure resilient to more extreme weather events

Engineers are working hard to make sure that our infrastructure is climate resilient.

For instance, material scientist Dr Alalea Kia is working on a new type of permeable pavement that will help address urban flooding.

As director of water utilities at Binnies, Rachel Pether has led on the development of an intelligent Dam Monitoring System, which improves the understanding of dams and decreases the risk of failure.

Climate adaptation plays a really important role, and civil engineers can help communities prepare.

Dr Ravindra Jayaratne, reader in coastal engineering, worked with the Sturmer Flood Action Group in Essex to help the community monitor nearby streams.

In the event of flooding, the community will be well prepared and aware of likely consequences. This also helps to reduce stress and anxiety.

4. Designing with sustainability at heart

From picking sustainable materials to decreasing energy use, Esther Olorunfemi keeps the environment in mind when renewing assets in her role as head of engineering for London Trams, Transport for London.

In her role developing construction schemes and temporary works, Mercedes Ascaso Til tries to re-use materials and equipment, retrofitting where possible.

Regardless of your civil engineering specialty, you can do your part for the planet. It might take some innovation, and it will require you to keep learning.

Claire Pallett, associate technical director at Arcadis, explains: “As civil engineers we need to be aware of the development and improvement of [sustainable products and methods] so that we can be more innovative in our designs to tackle climate change in all that we do.”

For example, engineers are working on exciting new solutions that harness nature for the benefit of people and the planet.

5. Promoting active travel

Civil engineers can also enable others to reduce their carbon footprint.

“As a highways and traffic engineer, I'm designing road schemes which promote the use of active travel modes, such as walking and cycling, and therefore decreasing the use of private vehicles,” explains Serena Gough, senior urban highways engineer at Arcadis.

From providing safe roads and walkways, to having appropriate and secure parking for cyclists – there's more to active travel than you may think.

Accessibility is key.

6. Taking personal action!

To many, separating your recycling or reducing food waste at home may not feel like the biggest steps towards a sustainable future.

But don’t underestimate the effect of collective action – when we all pull together, we can move forward at a significant pace.

From choosing public transport over your car, like Kathleen Harrison, contract director at Jacobs, to striving to buy ethically, like Josie Rothera, a director at PL Projects – it all counts.

Josie, who can often be found planting trees, highlights the importance of sharing what you do.

She says: “I ensure that my actions are visible to my network and to my own family, especially my young children. Although at times they’re able to educate me on sustainable behaviours!”

7. Providing essential services

“It is all well and good talking about climate change but if a household does not have access to water and electricity, they will not be able to engage and respond,” says Professor Priti Parikh, director of UCL’s Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction.

“Communities need access to basic infrastructure services to improve their quality of life and build resilience,” Priti explains.

Therefore, if your work brings water, electricity, heat, transport, food, and more, to your community, then you’re also doing your part.

8. Working together

We can achieve better outcomes when civil engineers join forces with other disciplines to tackle the effects of climate change.

Jonathan Prichard, one of the founding members of the Society for the Environment, champions this collaboration, emphasising the benefits that can result from exchanging specialist knowledge.

He shares the example of chemical engineers, who look at systems through the lens of mass and energy balance, from source to end of life.

Meanwhile, civil engineers tend to focus on the mechanics of balancing forces.

“This produces robust infrastructure, but it tends not to think about where the construction materials come from,” says Jon.

“I do therefore wonder whether civil engineers could benefit from understanding their materials at a molecular level, like chemical engineers would, when coming up with their designs.”

By working together and tackling environmental challenges through different lenses, civil engineers can enact more effective, long-term sustainable solutions.