Climate change, contemporary society and engineering practice: a sustainability journey

Article


Hasna, Abdallah M.. 2009. "Climate change, contemporary society and engineering practice: a sustainability journey." The International Journal of Climate Change: Impacts and Responses. 1 (4), pp. 139-150.
Article Title

Climate change, contemporary society and engineering practice: a sustainability journey

ERA Journal ID41741
Article CategoryArticle
Authors
AuthorHasna, Abdallah M.
Journal TitleThe International Journal of Climate Change: Impacts and Responses
Journal Citation1 (4), pp. 139-150
Number of Pages12
Year2009
Place of PublicationChampaign, Illinois, USA
ISSN1835-7156
Web Address (URL)http://www.Climate-Journal.com
Abstract

[Abstract]: Climate change, Contemporary Society and engineers share an indivisible pathway towards sustainability through the means of technology. Climate change and sustainability are now new domains that require a better understanding by engineers. Ten years ago sustainability was a development for the future however the absence of climate certainty in contemporary society has raised sustainability awareness to the forefront of societal debate. While sustainability in theory is defined as the capacity to maintain a certain process or state indefinitely. However the literal meaning of “indefinitely” in sustainability definition poses a set of intriguing questions, is indefinite human survival a plausible proposition in a finite world. For this reason efforts in the fight against climate change are becoming
a global effort, since it requires global cooperation and greater scientific consensus to reduce carbon emissions and consequently the planet’s energy footprint. We recognize that Sustainability ought to be economically viable, ecologically sound and sensitive; socially responsible and culturally appropriate. Surrounded by this realm of thinking all these mentioned definitions are equal measures that fail to address the importance of “technology” as a subject in the climate change and sustainability debate. Since this generation had inherited the historical legacy of nonrenewable energy technologies. The term “technology” in this context implies any technical system that can result in and/or be well described in terms of a process by which humans modify nature to meet their needs and wants. This paper seeks to investigate the underlying philosophical frames and the nature of the issues of sustainability present to engineers. It explores the notion of “Sustainability” and “technology “in engineering practice. Further, we argue that in order to establish a clear, measurable, actionable, and universally accessible working definition of sustainable engineering practices. climate change and technology life cycle need to be inclusive to sustainability.

Keywordsclimate change, applied sciences, technology, energy efficiency
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020400403. Chemical engineering design
Public Notes

© 2009 (individual papers), the author(s).

Byline AffiliationsDepartment of Agricultural, Civil and Environmental Engineering
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