You can't push a rope

Sustainable development's healthy tension

Author

Trip Edwards
December 21, 2023

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Generative AI’s interpretation of sustainable development. Brought to you by pixlr.com

Headline: The International Energy Agency (IEA) recently highlighted that buildings account for 30% of global energy consumption and 26% of energy-related emissions. While direct emissions from the buildings sector decreased in 2022 as compared to 2021, more rapid change is needed, the report says.   

So what: This shouldn’t be a surprise. Legacy building designs are not forward-thinking (building envelopes in particular need attention). Momentum is accelerating around the clean energy economy with solar and electric vehicles leading the charge, but there’s a lot of structural work to do. On the whole, only 3 of 50 components are currently “on track” with the NetZero by 2050 Scenario trajectory. Environmental sustainability, until recently, has been mostly a nice-to-have. Civil and architectural engineers have a unique opportunity to lead the charge in creating economically viable, sustainable designs to help meet the 2050 goals.

Under the surface: BUT, it's not just about buildings. The design and flow of urban environments needs attention and fresh thinking. 

  • Electric vehicle sales jumped 55% last year; nuclear energy capacity grew by 40%; electrolyzer capacity (core technology needed to produce energy from hydrogen) grew by 20% (and is expected to quadruple by the end of 2023) - these stats have significant implications for how humans interact with urban environments.

We must change our mindset [to] incorporate social and environmental justice into [civil] engineering.

Jenny Chaverri, PhD - Concordia University

  • Transportation emissions represent upwards of 25% of particulate matter in the air, but it's only mentioned twice in the 224-page IEA Net Zero by 2050 report. 

  • Cop28 discussions pinpoint the need for urban environments, particularly those in climate-vulnerable countries, to rethink climate resiliency. 

Net, net: Sustainable development is not just about improving the efficiency of individual buildings. There is a sizable opportunity to rethink the design and flow of urban environments more holistically, and civil engineers have a unique opportunity to have outsized influence in that thinking.

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The Industry Scoop - What We’re Reading

  • Historic COP28 reparations fund: UN COP28 members agreed to launch a historic $400M loss and damage fund for climate-vulnerable countries. Is it enough?

  • The $1T bipartisan infrastructure law's 2-year anniversary: Formula and direct federal spending in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) are steadily advancing, with $306 billion already allocated, while competitive grantmaking is progressing, constituting 80% of awards yet to be granted. While the administration's unbiased distribution of awards is noted, the economic impact of the IIJA is still in question, including concerns around increased demand for skilled labor and rising construction costs.

  • 10 AI project ideas for civil engineers: Here are some fun ideas from Analytics Insight, including structural health monitoring, natural disaster prediction and response, and more. 

The Ladder - Job Postings

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Until next time; happy goal crushing.