Engineers Key To Driving Net-zero Transition

Integrating sustainability, interdisciplinary learning, and ethical leadership into engineering education is crucial for preparing future-ready professionals capable of reducing carbon intensity and promoting inclusive growth

Amid growing attention to sustainability and climate change in the twenty-first century, pursuing net-zero goals has moved from being an optional exercise to a necessity for survival. Engineers are central to this transformation as they design infrastructure, power systems, software and industrial processes. To support the shift towards net zero, they must be trained to build sustainable systems, rethink resource use and develop technologies that reduce carbon intensity while enabling growth.

The traditional engineering curriculum, long centred on technical mastery, now requires reframing through the lens of sustainability. Meeting the net-zero challenge demands a shift in how engineers are prepared, both academically and professionally, with greater emphasis on skills, values and approaches to innovation. Sustainability should be embedded across engineering courses rather than offered as electives. For instance, mechanical engineering could integrate life-cycle assessment of machinery, while civil engineering might emphasise low-carbon construction materials. Faculty can illustrate sustainable solutions through case studies such as renewable energy systems, green buildings and circular supply chains.