• Question: Can engineering help climate change?

    Asked by alexlake to Cathy, Jaz, Mark, Roma, Rory on 23 Jun 2014.
    • Photo: Cathy Fraser

      Cathy Fraser answered on 23 Jun 2014:

      Hi Alex

      Great question – and yes, engineering can definately help!
      There’s so many different types of engineering out there – so there’s so many ways to make a difference.
      For example – we need to monitor when things are changing with the climate, emissions, UV rays etc – so there’s engineering involved in creating monitoring kit – and in understanding what the kit is telling us!
      Then there’s all sorts of engineering involved in making things, and processes more efficient (so using less energy to start wtih) and more sustainable (so that’s possibly using materials which are re-used from somethign else, or can be reused in the future).
      National Grid are committed to specific targets as a company to help with climate change. There’s more at the link below, but we’re trying to decrease the emissions our work produces and our impact on the environment.
      http://www2.nationalgrid.com/responsibility/how-were-doing/grid-data-centre/climate-change/

    • Photo: Jaz Rabadia

      Jaz Rabadia answered on 23 Jun 2014:

      Hi Alex.

      Absolutely !

      We need to engineer a way out of climate change. Engineering will help us to find different technologies and solutions to energy and water usage. I use engineering to help debenhams reduce their energy use and reduce impact on environment.. that is helping reduce climate change.. but the challenge is we need all companies to do it!! all around the world!

    • Photo: Mark Greaves

      Mark Greaves answered on 23 Jun 2014:

      Hi Alex,

      Engineering is key to help slow down climate change. Remember that our climate is always changing. The modern world is speeding up this change.

      At United Utilities we are recycling more than ever and have commited to reducing our carbon footprint. We are currently building more sludge recycling plants that help get as much useful energy from waste as possible. This link takes you to an overview of one of our sludge recycling plants…http://www.cambi.no/wip4/plant.epl?cat=10643&id=463527

      Mark

    • Photo: Roma Agrawal

      Roma Agrawal answered on 23 Jun 2014:

      It is only engineering and science that are going to help (hopefully) solve the problem! we need to work hard to find better ways to live and move and build things so that we don’t impact the planet too much.

    • Photo: Rory Hadden

      Rory Hadden answered on 24 Jun 2014:

      Engineering will be essential to tackle climate change. We need to engineer more resilient systems to cope with the change as well as to reduce our impact on the environment. One thing that is currently being proposed is ‘geoengienering’ this is a large-scale deliberate intervention in the earth system by engineers. It sounds really interesting and almost all engineers will be involved. Read more here https://royalsociety.org/further/geoengineering/ There are some crazy ideas (like giant ships to make artificial clouds to act as a sun shade!) but a lot of creativity is required to solve these big problems.

      This will present a lot of challenges but also loads of great opportunities for engineers in the future.

      Rory

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