Solutions to combating climate change in Ireland will be discussed by Ireland’s engineering community today at the National Conference of Engineers Ireland, opened by President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins. The President who is an Honorary Fellow of the professional body, was welcomed by Maurice Buckley, the Institution’s own President, who said: “The delivery of the fruits of science and technology for universal social benefit has formed one of the central themes in the Presidency of Michael D. Higgins, with the President stressing to us today the importance of using scientific insights to address the great challenges facing humanity.”
President Michael D. Higgins told the remote audience of engineers, representing the full spectrum of the engineering profession, that “Engineers have a clear role to play to ensure that everyone in the world has access to clean water, sanitation, reliable energy, and safeguarded from climate change’s adverse impacts which are already manifesting.”
Stating that climate change is “the greatest contemporary challenge facing us as inhabitants of this planet in peril,” President Higgins, said: “Nature has a fine balance, and scientific models are so sophisticated and precise now that this can be shown empirically. Earth’s ecosystem, the composition of the atmosphere, and the world’s weather – our ecological systems – operate in a stable equilibrium or homeostasis. An ostensibly small change in just one parameter within this equilibrium, such as that brought about by human-sourced emissions of greenhouse gases, results in weather changes that include increasing temperatures and changing precipitation patterns, with catastrophic impacts on sea-level rises. The cumulative effect of this is climate chaos with all its social and economic consequences.
“I suggest respectfully that the time has long passed for debate on the science, useless apportionments of blame, or idle comparisons. Action is now needed, and I ask all engineers across all branches of engineering to play their role.”
President Higgins said that the Irish education system “needs to generate many more engineers armed with skills needed to meet the global climate-change challenge and to build a sustainable world.”
President Higgins also referenced Engineers Ireland’s, Engineering 2020, report which found that almost three-quarters of the Irish public believe engineers have an ethical obligation to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss. He said: “Engineers are central to sustainable development and are uniquely placed to help the world meet critical Sustainable Development Goals.”
The Conference, taking place as a fully virtual event from 9am, includes speakers from the UK, USA, the Netherlands and Portugal in addition to contributions from speakers with Ireland based engineering-led expertise. Speakers include, Dr Morgan Bazilian, former Lead Energy Specialist at the World Bank, Director of the Payne Institute in the USA and a Professor of Public Policy at the Colorado School of Mines, Dr Hayaatun Sillem, CBE, CEO, Royal Academy of Engineering, UK, named as one of the ‘Inspiring Fifty’ women in tech; Flood Risk Management expert from South Holland, Reinoud van Oosten, and Sofia Cordeiro, Advisor, Urban Green Structure, Environment, Climate and Energy, Lisbon Municipality, Portugal. This year Lisbon holds the European Commission-awarded title of European Green Capital 2020. Presenting on topics as diverse as Carbon Capture and Storage, Off Shore Wind Generation, the Future Energy Citizen and climate resilient and liveable communities, Irish based conference speakers include representatives from the Office of Public Works, ESB, Ervia, Irish Water, Dingle Creativity and Innovation Hub and academics from University College Cork/SFI MaREI Centre and University College Dublin.
Caroline Spillane, Director General of Engineers Ireland said: “Engineers have a key role to play in the transition to a sustainable, carbon-free society; Sustainable Development Goal 9 for example, calls for the building of resilient infrastructure, promotion of inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and fostering innovation. Our Conference aims to mobilise and educate engineers across all sectors to be drivers of climate action in their own business, network and communities.”
On foot of the Government’s Budget 2021 announcement last week, Engineers Ireland published its report ‘The State of Ireland 2020 – Engineering a green and digital recovery’.
The report advocates that Ireland’s future will be green and digital, driven by investments in infrastructure, technology and education. Informed by a dedicated advisory group of engineers and other professionals, the report outlines a set of recommendations that will help the Irish economy to recover by tackling the challenges and embracing the opportunities arising from climate change, digitalisation and Brexit.
Maurice Buckley, President of Engineers Ireland, said: “A Green New Deal for Ireland has the potential to accelerate a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, supported by a statutory net zero target for 2050 and funding through the European Green Deal. Communities must be at the heart of this transition, involved as early as possible and ensuring clear benefits from infrastructure projects. Priority projects we reference within our report include energy system integration and achieving 70% renewable electricity, a seaport to support offshore wind development, a hydrogen strategy, a radical national retrofit strategy, re-engineering our transport system, active State land management, and multi-annual funding for water, wastewater and flood risk management.”