The climate is changing. Engineering education needs to change as well

As atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations continue to rise and the consequences of climate change become increasingly destructive, engineers, scientists, and the broader population are now aware that climate change is a threat we can no longer avoid. Addressing climate change requires facing two interconnected challenges. The first is to rapidly transition to carbon neutral—or even carbon negative—energy systems while reducing greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors of the economy. The second challenge is to minimize the impacts of climate change, particularly for the most vulnerable populations, by building sustainable and resilient systems. Addressing these challenges will require a fundamental reshaping of engineering education. The next generation of engineers and current practitioners will need new skills to serve society in this environment of uncertainty and rapid change. Empowering engineers with the skills to address the challenges created by climate change requires adapting both the technological and philosophical frameworks used in engineering education. In particular, engineers will need to (1) understand how climate and sustainability are linked to engineering design; (2) incorporate a wide range of disciplines into engineering solutions; (3) understand the ethics and justice dimensions of engineering; and (4) listen to and collaborate with diverse communities. Developing these skills requires reimagining engineering education and continuing professional development from student to senior practitioner.