BIO-5006 Sustainable Development

27.3.2013-technology and sustainable development-role of engineers and engineering ethics

annina.takala@tut.fi

What is technology?

What is technology?• Technology is about skills and knowledge of human

beings on how to use natural resources and ecosystems for their benefitmodifying environment, controlling it and adapting

to it• Technology is about systems, equipment and

artifacts that people use to satisfy their daily needs. Technology is not artificial. (Rytilä 2008)

Pre-industrial society• Before industrialisation,

environmental impacts of human activities can be considered to be regionally limited (Mulder 2007)

• Humans were able to cause significant impacts in local and regional ecosystems (e.g. some species became extinct, deforestation) but the functionality and carrying capacity of ecosystems was not compromised. (Honkasalo 2004)

Industrial society (Mulder 2007, Honkasalo 2004)

• Work previously done by humans themselves or domestic animals was replaced by machines needed remarkable amounts of energy use of fossil fuels.

• Urbanization human settlements were gathered in small areas carrying capacity of ecosystems was exhausted locally

Response to environmental problems

• Development of environmental technologies– dumping (e.g. of waste in

pits), – displacement (e.g. of

pollution by sewerage and smokestacks)

– dilution (of gaseous and liquid effluents)

• Not enough

Technology is to blame?• Environmentalism combined many concerns associated

with technological development, that had existed already earlier (Haila & Lähde 2003)

• The global environmental problems and their severity have made people doubt the possibility of solving problems by developing technology. (Honkasalo 2000) crisis of the industrial society

Technology will save us?• The fulfilment of all these tasks [to solve challenges of

sustainable development] will require the reorientation of technology the key link between humans and nature (The World Commission on Environment and Development 1987)

• Development of technology has made it possible to use less energy and natural resources while at the same time polluting less

Attitudes toward technology(Mitcham according to Heikkerö 2009)

• Ancient skepticism• The thought that technology is bad but necessary or

technology is necessary but dangerous; these thoughts manifest themselves in early Western philosophy.

Attitudes toward technology(Mitcham according to Heikkerö 2009)

Enlightenment optimism• Bacon, Galilei, Descartes• Human beings are obligated to

cultivate and civilize (improve) environment

• Development of mathematics and natural sciences in the 17th century nature can (and should) be controlled mechanistic world view

Attitudes toward technology(Mitcham according to Heikkerö 2009)

• Romantic uneasiness (ambivalence)– Rousseau– Technology as a form of

creativity; needs to be controlled otherwise it will take over

What about today?

Attitudes towards technology

• According to Finnish surveys on attitudes and values (Haavisto & Kiljunen 2011):– Techno-optimism of Finns has been in decline for the

tha past 20 years– In the year 2011, 35 % were of the opinion that

technology can solve the problems of humanity, whereas 43 % were more sceptical

Technological development and society

Technology and society• Instrumental view

• technology is neutral• based on the idea of rational human beings and the

ability to control development

http://xkcd.com/898/

Technology and society• Technological determinism

• development of technology is guided by internal logics beyond cultural or political influence

• technological development guides societal development

• e.g. development of ICT caused globalization

Technology and society

• Technological voluntarism (Niiniluoto 2000)• do we want to control

technology?• better understanding of the

complexities and dynamics of technological development

...technology and society• Technology is not developed in isolation from society,

but the societal goals and structures impact it• The relationship of technology and society is much more

diverse and complex than a linear relationship from technology to society or vice versa

• The social and environmental impacts of technology are revealed only when applied in practice and over time technology can be used in different ways and it can become

immersed in culture and behavior of human beings in totally unexpected ways

• We need more open discussion on the values and goals of our society (Niiniluoto 2000)

The role of engineers in sustainable development?

Engineers in society• Traditional view: Engineering is value-free. Engineers

are responsible for the functionality of technology, it is the users who are responsible for the actual use.

• Engineers as employees: do as they are told, loyal to their employer

• However, at least in Finland engineers work mostly in R&D, product development, sales and marketing or strategic design and management act as experts and decision makers

The invisible profession?

• According to Michelsen (1999), in Finland, engineers have chosen an invisible role in society

• Technological solutions part of infrastructure invisible?

Taking a more active role?• "As engineers, we have both the abilities - and in my

personal opinion also a special responsibility - to help identify technologies and solutions that politicians can draw on when they must make decisions about the world's energy future“ Søren Skibstrup Eriksen, Chairman of Steering Group on Climate and Energy, IDA

• Future Climate - Engineering Solutions: http://ida.dk/sites/climate/sider/default.aspx

WFEO and sustainable development• http://www.ch2m.com/WFEO/index.htm• Goals:

– To describe the roles engineers play in improving human living standards and protecting and restoring the environment.

– To review the accomplishments engineers have made toward the sustainability goals defined in Agenda 21, the primary action document of the 1992 Rio Summit.

– To summarize the ways that engineers can more effectively meet the goals of Agenda 21 in the future.

• Of the 2500 issues in Agenda 21, 1700 seem to have engineering or technical implications, and at least 241 appear to have major engineering implications.

Professional codes of ethics

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Code of Ethics

• Which issues in this Code of Ethics are related to sustainable development?

• What is the role of engineers perceived to be?• Are there any contradictions?• Is something missing? Is something too much?• Is it practical?• Could you commit to it?

http://www.ieee.org/about/corporate/governance/p7-8.html

HomeworkCheck if your national engineering organisation (or organisation representing your profession or field in general) has a Code of Ethics or Code of Honour. Please report on your findings in your learning diary.

You could also think about how engineers are perceived in your home countries? Are engineers respected? Is engineering and technology seen as important from the point of view of sustainable development? How about engineers themselves? Do they see themselves as influential actors or just as employees who do as they are told? Are engineers active in your society?

The Royal Academy of Engineering: Engineering for sustainable development – Guiding principles(Dodds & Venables 2005)

The 12 Principles of Engineering for Sustainable Development are:1. Look beyond your own locality and the immediate future– In considering the effects of our decisions on the wider world,

we need to: identify the potential positive and negative impacts of

our proposed actions, not only locally and soon but also outside our immediate local environment, organisation and context, and into the future

seek to minimise the negative, while maximising the positive, both locally and more widely, and into the future

...12 principles2. Innovate and be creative– A sustainable development approach is creative, innovative and

broad, and thus does not mean following a specific set of rules. It requires an approach to decision-making that strikes a balance between environmental, social and economic factors.

– we are not seeking a ‘holy grail’ of a single ‘correct’ solution– alternative solutions can be identified that fit with the sustainable

development approach– it is very difficult to predict with certainty how these alternatives will

work into the future, so we need to provide options and flexibility for change and other action in the future

– there are no guarantees that our solutions will be truly sustainable – we therefore must do our best with the skills, knowledge and resources we have at our disposal now

...12 principles3. Seek a balanced solution

– Approaches like the ‘three pillars’ and the ‘capitals’ seek to deliver economic, social and environmental success all at the same time, and so seek to avoid any product, process or project that yields an unbalanced solution. This could be one that generates significant environmental harm, that generates social disquiet or that generates economic loss or spends public funds inefficiently, because each of these should be characterised as unsustainable.

...12 principles4. Seek engagement from all stakeholders

– Society will ultimately say what is needed or wanted for any development, sustainable or otherwise. So reaching decisions in this area requires:

• engagement of stakeholders to bring their different views, perceptions, knowledge and skills to bear on the challenge being addressed

• professional engineers to participate actively in the decision-making as citizens as well as in their professional roles

...12 principles5. Make sure you know the needs and wants • Effective decision-making in engineering for sustainable

development is only possible when we know what is needed or wanted – the framework of the problem, issue or challenge to be tackled. This should be identified as clearly as possible, including identifying any legal requirements and constraints. We should use teamwork and assistance of immediate colleagues to improve problem definition.

• It is important to recognise that many engineering challenges are driven by what people want to have – such as even better motor cars – rather than just what they need – a means of transport. In addition,‘wants’ are often characterised as ‘needs’ when they are in fact just perceived needs, and a more modest solution may ultimately be acceptable.

...12 principles6. Plan and manage effectivelyIn planning our engineering projects,we need to:• express our aims in sufficiently open-ended terms so as not to preclude

the potential for innovative solutions as the project develops• assemble and critically review historical evidence and forward

projections, and weigh the evidence for relevance and importance to the plan

• encourage creative ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking• define the desired outcome in terms of an appropriate balance between

the economic, environmental and social factors identified earlier• recognise that ideas that may not be immediately practicable can

stimulate research for the next project, but also that they need to be properly recorded if they are to be acted upon

• etc

...12 principles7. Give sustainability the benefit of any doubt • This encapsulates the ‘precautionary principle’ and, to be

implemented, forces us to

– address the future impacts of today’s decisions. So we need to:• demonstrate that improved sustainability will result from the actions

proposed• act with caution where we consider that the effects of our decisions

may be permanent and/or if we do not have a full scientific understanding of the issue or challenge being considered

• only discount the disadvantages and benefits of future events or impacts when they’re very uncertain

• recognise that sustainable development depends on investing for jam tomorrow and for bread and butter today.

...12 principles8. If polluters must pollute… then they must pay as well • The environment belongs to us all and its free use for absorption of

our wastes or its unfettered exploitation are not sustainable. The adverse, polluting effects of any decision should, in some way, be paid for or compensated for by the proponent of an engineering project, scheme or development; they should not be transferred to others without fair compensation. In addition, it may be necessary to anticipate future pollution prevention legislation if a long-term project is to be sustainable.

• The challenge that this Principle thus presents is how to define the ‘cost’ or compensation that is appropriate. To determine how much should be paid, or how much compensatory work should be done, we need to work with costs that fully reflect the social and environmental implications of a decision, and tools to undertake such calculations are now available and being developed.

...12 principles9. Adopt a holistic, ‘cradle-to-grave’ approach To deliver this approach, the effects on sustainability throughout the

whole life-cycle of a product or infrastructure scheme should be systematically evaluated. We need to:

• use whole-life-cycle tools to improve our decision-making: whole-life-cycle environmental assessment, whole-life-cycle costing, and assessment of the social impacts over the whole life time of the engineering challenge we are addressing – sometimes called assessment of inter-generational equity – where the impacts of our decisions on future generations are considered alongside the present

• handle uncertainty by keeping open as many future options as practicable

• ensure that the design is maintainable and that the materials are adaptable for re-use or recycling

...12 principles10. Do things right, having decided on the right thing to do• Adhering to the Principles explained so far should ensure that right

decisions from a sustainability point of view have been made in relation to the circumstances that apply. The implementation of these right decisions must then pay full regard to doing things right, again from a sustainability point of view. To deliver this Principle, we need to:– retain the sustainability focus on the intended outcome right

through the implementation of the solution– recognise that the intermediate processes of construction,

manufacture, production and transport can be resource-intensive and need to be managed with an active sustainability orientation

– etc.

...12 principles11. Beware cost reductions that masquerade as value engineering

We are unlikely to arrive at our best decisions first time every time. So we need to challenge ourselves and refine those decisions, whilst remaining focused on the intended outcome. We therefore need to:– avoid sacrificing the sustainability desires incorporated in a

design when seeking cost reductions– include any adverse effects on sustainability in the ‘value

equation’ and value engineering– be self-critical of our own fundamental assumptions and values– be prepared to challenge our and others’ existing assumptions– re-examine first preferences and submit them to re-appraisal

...12 principles12. Practice what you preach.

One’s own everyday practices should not be at variance with what is being asked of others – you must not expect more of others than you do of yourself. Be prepared to be accountable for your design and engineering, and uphold by example the beliefs it reflects. Change yourself before you seek to change others.

Summary...• Engineers have a central role in sustainable

development– developing sustainable technology (but that is not all,

engineers have potential for much more)• Technology is an essential part of society

– but it is not the only thing– engineers should take on a more active role in society

sharing own expertisecollaborating with others

Materials, sources• Blewitt, J. 2008. Understanding Sustainable Development.

Earthscan, London. (Ebrary)• Honkasalo, A. 2000. Teollinen ekologia – uusi näkökulma

insinööritieteisiin. Vipu 1/2000. http://www.kaapeli.fi/~tep/vipu/2000-1/honkasalo/teoleko.pdf

• Honkasalo, A. 2004. Työ ja ekotehokkuus. Suomen ympäristö 685. http://www.environment.fi/default.asp?contentid=310673&lan=fi

• Macnaghten, P. & Urry, J. 1998. Contested Natures. Sage Publications, London.

• Mulder, K. F. 2007. Innovation for sustainable development: from environmental design to transition management. Sustainability Science 2 (2), pp. 253–263.

…more…• Haila, Y. & Lähde, V. (Ed.). 2003. Luonnon politiikka. Vastapaino,

Tampere. • Hajer, M.A. 1995. The Politics of Environmental Discourse. Ecological

Modernization and the Policy Process. Clarendon Press, Oxford.• Heikkerö, T. 2009. Tekniikka ja etiikka. Johdatus teoriaan ja käytäntöön.

http://www.tek.fi/ci/pdf/teknologia/etiikka/tekniikkajaetiikka.pdf• Michelsen, K.-E. 1999. Viides sääty. Insinöörit suomalaisessa

yhteiskunnassa. Tekniikan Akateemisten Liitto TEK, Suomen historiallinen seura SHS, Helsinki.

• Niiniluoto, I. 2000. Tekniikan filosofia. In Lemola (Ed. ). Näkökulmia teknologiaan. Gaudeamus, Helsinki. pp. 16–35.

• Rytilä, P. 2008. Tekniikka on outo lintu. Kuntatekniikka 6/2008, pp. 38–41.• Wals, A.E.J & Jickling, B. 2002. “Sustainability” in higher education: from

doublethink and newspeak to critical thinking and meaningful learning. Higher Education Policy 15, pp. 121–131.

…and still some more• The Light Bulb Conspiracy – a documentary (highly

recommended!) • Dodds, R. & Venables, R. (Ed.) 2005. Engineering for Sustainable

Development: Guiding Principles. The Royal Academy of Engineering. http://www.raeng.org.uk/events/pdf/Engineering_for_Sustainable_Development.pdf

• Korhonen-Yrjänheikki et al. 2011. Values and attitudes in engineering education. Aalto University publication series, Crossover 1/2011. Available: http://retro.tek.fi/ci/tekstra/Article_Values_Attitudes_in_Engineering%20Education.pdf