Chapter 6 – Sustainability
Sustainability from EGBC
https://www.egbc.ca/Practice-Resources/Sustainability
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability is the concept of utilizing our physical, natural and social resources to meet our needs and aspirations without compromising the well-being of future generations and the global ecosystem. Since the early 1990s, Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia has consistently supported and encouraged its members to adapt sustainable principles within the practice of professional engineering and geoscience.
Members of Engineers and Geoscientists BC, through the Sustainability Committee, advise Council on these matters on an ongoing basis.
SUSTAINABILITY AND APEGBC PROFESSIONALS
WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY?
A sustainable society meets the needs of people in a resilient economy without compromising the planet’s ecological integrity or the needs of future generations. Sustainability has three pillars that must be integrated in a balanced way:
a) environmental: to stay within the biophysical carrying capacity of our region/country/planet (e.g. minimize resource use, minimize waste, protect nature from degradation);
b) social: to maintain and protect quality of life and the values that we aspire to live by; and
c) economic: to ensure that an adequate material standard of living is provided for all members of society.
The most widely quoted definition of sustainability and sustainable development was given by the United Nations’ Brundtland Commission on March 20, 1987:
“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Since that time, the definition and scope of sustainability has expanded to encompass all aspects of human activities. Sustainability requires us to be smart about managing our resources and impacts, with the long term in mind. In other words,
we need to think about the way we use our natural, social, and economic capital so that we don’t use them up too fast or make conditions worse for others while we benefit ourselves (“others” can mean those in different places around the world or future generations).
How Does it Relate to Professional Engineering and Geoscience?
This preamble emphasizes the relevance of the Sustainability Guidelines to the scope of an APEGBC professional’s task and work responsibilities. APEGBC professionals must consider these Sustainability Guidelines in their work; the application of the Sustainability Guidelines is, however, a matter of judgment. The concept of sustainability in the practice of professional engineering and geoscience is not new. Sustainability is already a key element to our professional practice where we carry out our roles considering ethical, environmental, social and economic challenges. By continually gathering new knowledge, developing new materials and technologies, and using more sophisticated decision-making methods, we deliver economic benefits, minimize ne