Approved by the Committee on Sustainability on June 6, 2023
Approved by the Public Policy and Practice Committee on June 25, 2023
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 22, 2023
Policy
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports implementation of the civil engineering aspects of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ASCE works in collaboration with other domestic and international organizations to engage engineers in addressing the needs of disadvantaged communities through capacity building and the development of sustainable and appropriate solutions to poverty.
Issue
In an age of interdependence, globalization is a crucial pillar of progress. Science and engineering can contribute solutions to address many issues that are facing the developing world.
By 2050 population growth in both developed and developing nations will create unprecedented demands for energy, food, land, water, transportation, materials, waste disposal, earth moving, health care, environmental cleanup, telecommunication, and infrastructure. The role of engineers will be critical in fulfilling those demands at various scales, ranging from remote small communities to large urban areas, and mostly in the developing world. Engineers have long embraced the vision to build a more sustainable, stable, and secure world. We must train a new generation of engineers who can better meet the challenges of the developing world and address the needs of disadvantaged communities lacking clean water, adequate sanitation, and adequate housing.
Rationale
Engineers of the 21st century play a critical role in contributing to peace and security in an increasingly challenged world. The engineering profession has an obligation to provide solutions to meet the basic needs of all humans for water, sanitation, food, health, shelter, and energy that are culturally appropriate and that conserve and sustainably use resources. To those ends, ASCE is an affiliate member of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations and leads its UN Relations Committee (WURC).
By helping meet the SDGs the engineering profession contributes to a world where all people have access to the knowledge and resources with which to meet their basic human needs and promote sustainable development in such areas as water supply and sanitation, food production and processing, housing and construction, energy, transportation and communication, income generation, and employment creation.
This policy has worldwide application
ASCE Policy Statement 517
First Approved in 2006