Environmental Ethical Responsibilities Of Engineers

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Environmental ethical responsibilities of Engineers

The earth is becoming densely populated every day. Similarly, its ability to offer basic

needs to all the people of the current world is failing since it has limited natural resources.

Therefore the quest to have a sustainable environment should become an engineer’s

responsibility among other professionals, there needs to be a global call to run the environment

sustainable (Ettler 57 ). Since engineers constitute a crucial part of the society, they owe

significant responsibilities and obligations to the environment. In this essay, engineers’ duties in

relation to enronmental ethical consideration discussed. To be able to make our environment

sustainable, fundamental needs such as air, water, and land of the ecosystem has to be kept safe

and safeguarded. This can only be possible if there is proper engineering planning. In regards to

this, the engineers contributions to a friendly ecosystem are also are also outlined in the paper.

Shortage of energy shortage comprises one of the climate change concerns of those

people in various parts of the world are currently experiencing (Ettler 57 ). Most of the

environmental pollution concerns are associated with construction engineering. There is,

therefore, a dire need for engineers to make an impact in contributing towards environmental

sustainability.

Engineering plays a major role in economic, social, human and cultural activities to

achieve sustainable development goals. Sustainable development is a major concern to catering

for current human needs from natural resources and at the same time conserving the environment

and its quality (Ettler 57 ). These challenges have always been addressed through engineering

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research and advanced technologies. Having a sustainable development is necessity for the

current world and for the next generation as well, something that can be feasible with the help of

professional engineers(Smith, Gardoni, and Murphy 520). Engineers ought to strive to improve

the quality of ecosystem while trying to advocating for the concept of sustainable development.

Engineers are obligated to society to research on ways of enhancing a safe environment, health,

and the social needs of the global family through the applications of sustainable development

principles (Smith, Gardoni, and Murphy 525). Due to the fact that both public health and safety

entirely rely on engineering decisions, evaluation of risk, decisions and implementation used in

processes, products, machines and structures devices, they ought to be responsible and liable to

their given duty (Smith, Gardoni, and Murphy 528). Therefore, engineers are advised to follow

rules and regulations set by the global community.

Engineers Responsibility towards Environment

Research in the engineering field continues to offer information about the connection

between health and quality of environment. Necessities of life include air, food, and water which

provide potential avenues for pollutants to adversely affect our health (Parker 669; Argandoña

247). Interaction with pollutants through consumption of contaminated soil, air, and water and

has been be the leading causes of various diseases as cancer, heart and respiratory complications

and reproductive health issues among others.

Air Pollution

Contaminated air posses a great threat to our sustainable environment. Therefore engineers in

ought to try to; mitigate emissions of greenhouse gasses such as sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide

and nitrogen oxide, by complying with the regulatory programs in accordance with established

objectives and time frames.

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They also ought to engage in local and global initiatives that deal with trans-border line air

issues. For instance, they need to work to meet local standards for two main kinds of smog:

atmospheric level ozone and particulate matter.

Besides engineers would have to establish air shed management strategies and work with mega

industrial firms to track transportation and deposition from primary sources.

Water Pollution

Drinking water that is clean is another concern for many emerging economies where

global engineers could help much in this challenge. Engineers could be tasked with the duty of,

collaborating with agriculture and fisheries firms to tackle water quality and quantity concerns,

establish a framework for protecting water sources and having aquatic ecosystems that thrives on

the water strategy(Gunn 1). Engineers can consult with the relevant municipality departments of

pertinent countries when establishing guidelines, benchmarks and rules for municipal water and

waste water concerns. There is also the need to use a government wide strategy to water related

concerns through the relevant water policy bodies so as to expand, improve the water tracking

system with appropriate maintenance (Smith, Gardoni, and Murphy 524). Besides, the engineers

should work with health departments on challenges related to pollutants in drinking water

(Smith, Gardoni, and Murphy 520). Lastly, the engineers could liaise with municipal and local

partners to tackle wastewater concerns, give funding incentives to municipalities for their

drinking water and waste water programs, and for the planning of land utilization in water supply

areas.

Land Pollution

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Contaminants in water, soil and air, are potential health hazards. Engineers ought to be

committed to mitigate the environmental effects of such substance and advocate for pollution

prevention in effective way (Gunn 1). They should apply hazard based management strategies to

concentrate efforts where they are most deserved. Furthermore the is need to modernize current

regulations restricting hazardous compounds and doing away with regulatory duplication, Also

effective use, treatment, and disposal of harmful substances should be promoted. Engineers

could also apply warning signs to users of hazardous chemicals, and advocate for stewardship by

producers to spur safe lifecycle control of dangerous chemicals (Smith, Gardoni, and Murphy

527). Engineers are recommended to work with other departments to enhance rehabilitation of

polluted sites and encourage sustainable redevelopment. Lastly technical experts should promote

early diagnosis and remedies to land quality challenges via legislated needs for mandatory

reporting of site pollution.

Engineers Obligations in relation to Climate Change

Climate change is trending theme in today’s world. Research studies on climate change

report rising sea levels, changing rainfall trends, shift in crop growing periods and frequent and

uncomfortable weather interruptions within a century. Climate change will lead to environmental

and economic effects for several countries around the globe as well ushering in new pestilences.

The causative agents of climate changes include green house gases and carbon dioxide CO

is the

main compound (Smith, Gardoni, and Murphy 529). The CO2 is produced by human beings

when breathing out. However, people are not bothered about the risks associated with climate

change. Few of the adverse effects of climate change in our environment include escalated

droughts, excessive rainfall events and floods as well as reduction in safe fresh water provisions

and availability. Furthermore, it escalates the amount and frequency of hurricanes and tornados,

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particularly in the flat areas of the globe as a result of the rising altitude. It also impacts on our

ecosystems for prolonged periods. It causes harm to our animals and plants, escalating bushfires,

excessive floods, and famine. Accordingly it also wanes forest coverage, leading to expansion of

dry lands, and other similar alterations. It contributes to the acidification of ocean waters and

destroys coral reef and invasive animals and plants. Change of Climate results in the reduction of

plant yields changes in growing seasons and increased incidences of hunger and malnutrition and

reduction in number of fish. Climate change has mortality rate attributed to floods, fires,

tornadoes, and famine.

It alters the spread of certain contagious diseases, such as malaria, heart diseases, and diarrhea.

Sustainable development has over the years become an accepted philosophy for the world

economic growth and environmental safeguarding since the beginning of the twenty first century

where engineers in various files play a crucial role towards the development of a sustainable

world. The environment is intricate, consisting of ever interacting systems of air, water, land,

organic, and inorganic materials and animals (Ettler 58 ). Promoting a healthy world for current

and future posterity calls for the collaboration of all the stakeholders including the public,

institutions and organizations and all levels of government agencies. By employing a balanced,

well coordinated strategy, engineers could work together to safeguard the health, wellbeing, and

environmental quality of our society. All of these approaches mentioned in this essay are

effected by different kinds of engineers (Ettler 59). Lastly, engineers and scientists are requires

to collaborate together to protect our world in terms of coming up with safe chemical

compounds, sustainable ecosystem, and clean and reusable energy resources and more to ensure

a better living standards for current and future generation.

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Work Cited

Argandoña, Antonio. “On Ethical, Social and Environmental Management Systems.” Journal of

Business Ethics 2004: 41–52. Web.

Ettler, Vojtěch. “Soil Contamination near Non-Ferrous Metal Smelters: A Review.” Applied

Geochemistry 2015: 56–74. Web.

Gunn, A S. Integrity and the Ethical Responsibilities of Engineers. Vol. 2. N.p., 2010. Web.

Parker, Jessica K. “Critical Literacy and the Ethical Responsibilities of Student Media

Production.” Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy 56.8 (2013): 668–676. Web.

Smith, Justin, Paolo Gardoni, and Colleen Murphy. “The Responsibilities of Engineers.” Science

and engineering ethics 20.2 (2014): 519–538. Web.

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