Reader Response Draft 3
In “Why the Climate Change Fight Needs Engineers”, Shah
(2015) stresses the importance of engineering talents required to mend the
future climate change problem. The writer states how experts have highlighted
the key to solve sustainability challenges in Singapore and Asia Pacific
through engineering expertise. She also discusses the realisation of Singapore government
bodies in working towards being “low carbon economy” due to constant
experiences with extreme changing weather patterns. Shah additionally
introduces the Engineers Progression Pathway Programme initiated by Singapore
to further bring out the capabilities of its engineers’ professional and
technical skills. Such a programme helps elevate the engineering field
standards, providing career development in the long-term and coaching
leadership aptitude of senior engineers. The examples show that engineering has
been given the forefront role in tackling climate change as many opportunities
are given to engineers in transitioning cities to be more sustainable and
economic. While Shah’s article has put a spotlight on the importance of the
role of engineering, I strongly believe that she could expand the discussion more
with other stakeholders being as important as engineers in countering future
sustainability issues.
It is true that engineering has a significant influence in
tackling environmental concerns. Throughout the history of the profession, it
has developed countless helpful advancements in human ways of life. It could
further provide the solutions to every day urban living challenges. We can view
climate change as an alarming issue affecting humankind in this 21st century. Even Singapore Deputy Prime
Minister Teo has “highlighted the role of engineers and engineering in
improving humanity’s quality of life” (Cheam, 2013). During the World Engineers
Summit 2013, a discussion initiated by Singapore was held to give prominent
emphasis on engineers working together and finding solutions for climate
change. This shows how the engineering profession is vividly stressed,
especially in Asian countries like Singapore, to overcome the problem of the
altering climate. Thus, Shah’s statement on the need of engineers and its
profession to fight climate change is further supported.
However, Shah shows a bias by not considering any other
stakeholders as being important in the effort to fight climate change. The best
way to address climate change is to bring together as many interested
professionals with different specializations as possible to work together in
tackling a common problem. Other examples of participants would be politicians,
scientists and civil society.
Firstly, politicians can persuade the people to support
environmentally friendly measures by addressing how their personal concerns
could be link with an action to help overcome environmental issues (Jex, 2015).
This would be a simpler method for politicians to encourage more people in
combating climate change than trying to alter their standpoint on matters
regarding the environment. Secondly, in the effort to stop global fossil fuel
usage, scientists needs to discover a new way to make renewable sources much
cheaper than the former primary source of energy. As a result, scientists now
have to change their priority in finding new economical way for clean energy to
be produce, store and distributed (Mohdin, 2015). Lastly, organising of civil
society networks have been proven to produce positive outcome during United
Nation negotiations located at Copenhagen in 2009 (Reid, 2012). Such networks
has the ability to shift government policy, being vocal, aiding to raise
awareness within the civil society as well as connecting local level
development problems with environment issues. Thus civil society networks is an
important platform in advocating common issues like climate change.
There isn’t only a single solution in countering the
environmental issues. Even Lohani (citied in Chua, June 2015), proposes an
awareness of a joint effort with “engineers, scientists and decision-makers” to
create a habitable city. This ultimately shows how one-sided the writer was by
focusing only on the importance of engineers.
A more complete approach could be taken in terms of parties
involved in finding ways to address climate change. Chua (July 2015) writes
that Teo states that the crucial role to transform Singapore and improve its
citizen’s living standards is given by people who have engineering profession.
Moreover, to be a competent ‘green intelligent city’ banking on “science and
technology, research and development, as well as in policies and system
integration” would be the most of Singapore’s concerns of climate challenges.
Therefore, this brings about a more informative way of discussing an issue. Not
only does it not be dependent on a single focus but also sees the solution in
an all rounded perspectives.
In general, Shah did an exceptionally great effort in
directing the readers on the main focus of engineering. This is because it is
true that to combat the challenges of climate change, engineers are the most
sort after as they have the key capabilities and skills to think of solutions
about the issue. It is however a let-down that she did not allow other
possibilities the same amount of consideration, if not more, than just focuses
on the engineers and its profession. Nevertheless, this article has aided me to
have a wider perspective on the environmental concerns and it was a pleasure to
read.
(844 words)
References:
Cheam, J. (2013, September 11). Engineering in the
Spotlight at Singapore Summits. The
Eco-Business. Retrieve from: http://www.eco-business.com/news/engineering-spotlight-singapore-summits/
Chua, J. (2015, June 15). Cities: Asia’s Main Battleground
for Climate Change. The
Eco-business. Retrieve from: http://www.eco-business.com/news/cities-asias-main-battleground-for-climate-change/
Chua, J. (2015, July 28). Engineering Plays Crucial Role in
Climate Change. The
Eco-Business. Retrieve from: http://www.eco-business.com/news/engineering-plays-crucial-role-in-climate-change/
Jex, C. (2015, October 6). This is How We Motivate People
to Tackle Climate Change. The Science
Nordic. Retrieve from: http://sciencenordic.com/how-we-motivate-people-tackle-climate-change
Mohdin, A. (2015, June 2). Experts Call for Apollo-Like
Commitment To Tackle Climate Change. The
IFL Science. Retrieve from: http://www.iflscience.com/environment/experts-call-apollo-commitment-tackle-climate-change
Reid, H. (2012, November 26). People Power Critical for
Tackling Climate Change. The
International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). Retrieve
from: http://www.iied.org/people-power-critical-for-tackling-climate-change
Shah, V. (2015, June 8). Why the Climate Fight Needs
Engineers. The Eco-Business.
Retrieve from: http://www.eco-business.com/news/why-the-climate-fight-needs-engineers/
posted: 22/10/2015 (6:59AM)
edited: 22/10/2015 (4:17PM)