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Dialogue on the
Engineers Role in Sustainable Development June 24, 2002 Organized by NAE,
State Department, In Affiliation
with ASCE, Engineers International A Declaration by
the U.S. Engineering Community The survival of our planet and its people requires the collaboration of all professions in both developed and developing countries to sustain future generations. The goal of improving the social and economic well being of all peoples in the developed and lesser-developed countries is a pre-requisite for creating a stable, sustainable world. Although achieving this goal will require a broad coalition of well-crafted policies, it will only be realized through the application of engineering principles and a commitment to public/private partnerships involving professionals from all fields including the social sciences, engineering and medicine. It will also require collaboration for development, acceptance and dissemination of innovative solutions and better use of existing technologies. Creating a sustainable world that provides a safe, secure, healthy life for all peoples is a priority for the US engineering community. It is evident that US engineering must increase its focus on sharing and disseminating information, knowledge and technology that provides access to minerals, `materials, energy, water, food and public health while addressing basic human needs. Engineers must deliver solutions that are technically viable, commercially feasible and, environmentally and socially sustainable. Today's world is increasingly complex. The technical challenges required for sustainability have become enormous. The US engineering community must become engaged earlier in the policy formulation and decision-making process through its technical and professional societies to provide knowledge of environmental impacts, costs and feasibility. Engineers must be actively engaged in the entire decision making process from conceptualization, to project design, development and implementation. This includes the interdisciplinary process of building the evaluation/decision framework and the institutional infrastructure to realize a sustainable future. We, the undersigned, commit to moving forward in support of the US engineering community to meet societal needs through capacity building, improved education, training, information development and dissemination, and engaging the engineering profession in all stages of the decision process. This statement is endorsed by:
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