Reader Response Draft 4
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 need 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 produced, stored and distributed (Mohdin, 2015). Lastly, organising of civil
society networks has been proven to produce positive outcome during United
Nation negotiations located at Copenhagen in 2009 (Reid, 2012). Such networks
have 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 are
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” should be the most of Singapore’s concerns of climate challenges.
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. However she did not elaborate further on other possibilities
by giving the same amount of consideration. Nevertheless, this article has
aided me to have a wider perspective on the environmental concerns and it was a
pleasure to read.
(829 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/