The urgency of global responsibility

Our planet is in crisis. We are depleting natural resources, accelerating biodiversity loss, and witnessing the escalating impacts of climate change. Meanwhile, vast inequalities persist, with millions of people struggling to meet their basic human needs. To prevent further catastrophe, emissions must be drastically reduced, ecosystems restored, and more equitable global systems established.

Engineering has played a significant role – both positive and negative – in shaping our world. Now, we must urgently rethink its purpose and practice to ensure a safe and just future for all.

• The risk of missing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is increasing. As highlighted in UNESCO’s Engineering for Sustainable Development Report, engineering is uniquely positioned to drive solutions—but current progress is too slow.
• The climate crisis is intensifying. The last decade has been the hottest on record, with global temperatures surpassing 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for the first time in 2024. Without immediate action, we are on track to breach critical tipping points.
• We are in a biodiversity emergency. One million species – 1 in 8 – are at risk of extinction, with deforestation, pollution, and habitat destruction pushing ecosystems to collapse. The human-made mass of infrastructure now outweighs all living biomass on Earth.
• The impact of global shocks – such as pandemics and geopolitical instability – continues to shape our world. These crises have deepened inequalities, disrupted economies, and highlighted the fragility of global supply chains and healthcare systems.

While engineers cannot solve these challenges alone, we are in a unique and powerful position to accelerate change. However, to do so effectively, we must transform engineering culture -embedding global responsibility into daily practice and decision-making.

Rethinking engineering’s role

A guiding framework for this shift is economist Kate Raworth’s Doughnut Economics. This model moves beyond GDP as the sole measure of progress and instead envisions a ‘safe and just space’ for humanity. This means ensuring social foundations – such as access to water, food, education, and healthcare – are met within the ecological ceiling, defined by nine planetary boundaries.

Alarmingly, we have already breached six of these nine boundaries, including biodiversity loss, climate change, and freshwater depletion. At the same time, millions of people’s basic needs are still not being met. Engineering must align with the principles of Doughnut Economics to help restore balance and meet the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Transforming engineering for the future

Achieving globally responsible engineering requires urgent action:

• Transforming engineering education. Higher education must evolve in line with society’s needs, embedding sustainability, ethics, and systems thinking into curricula.
• Upskilling the current workforce. A 2023 report by the IET found that almost 80% of UK engineering firms with sustainability strategies lack employees with the skills to implement them effectively.
• Shifting industry culture. We must challenge outdated practices and create spaces for inclusive, collaborative, and innovative problem-solving.

At Engineers Without Borders UK, we are working with educators, students, professionals, industry leaders, and policymakers to drive systemic change. By reaching the tipping point for globally responsible engineering, we can help build a future that works for both people and the planet.