WFEO Model Code of Practice for Sustainable
Development and Environmental Stewardship
World Federation of Engineering Organizations
Committee on Engineering and the Environment
Rev 1
June 2014
Agenda
Introduction
Model Code Principles
Closing Remarks
What is Sustainable Development?
“Sustainable development is
development that meets the social,
economic, and environmental needs
of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to
meet their needs.”
Brundtland Commission Report (1987)
• The needs of the world’s poor are a fundamental societal challenge requiring
engineering involvement
• Population, social organization and technology can impose limits
– Environmental decline or enhancement
– Inability or ability to meet current and future needs
• Technology can also be applied to counter some of the negative impacts on the
environment
What is Environmental Stewardship?
“Environmental Stewardship is the
prudent use of the finite resources in
nature to produce the greatest
benefit while maintaining a healthy
environment for the foreseeable
future”
• Human society is a part of the
environment
– Protecting and enhancing the
environment is good for society
• A healthy environment = a healthy society = a healthy economy
Sustainable Development & Environmental
Stewardship are Linked
“Effective environmental stewardship
requires all of us to manage natural
resources in ways that protect and
enhance – rather than compromise –
the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs”
US EPA (2005)
• Environmental Stewardship & Sustainable Development meet in the
present and carry forward together
– There can be no sustainable development without environmental
stewardship
– In order for a society to protect and preserve the environment it must
be able to engage itself in the effective use of its affordable resources
Sustainable Development, Environmental
Stewardship & the Engineer
“Engineers are involved with two kinds
of projects:
• They design and build projects
that meet basic human needs …
• They design and build facilities
and systems to mitigate
environmental problems … “
WFEO (2002)
• The engineering profession is neutral
• Engineering projects are NOT neutral
• Engineering activities offer many opportunities to pursue sustainable
development and environmental stewardship
– Engineers can advocate and contribute to a positive future through clean(er)
technologies
– Engineers placing more emphasis on technologies and mechanisms that
substitute high impacts with lower impacts e.g. renewable energy
Sustainable Development, Environmental
Stewardship & the Engineer
“Engineers are faced with a
dilemma. They may not be the
decision-maker. They may not share
the perspective of the local
community.“
Three demands on the engineer
1. Sensitivity to local communities
2. Providing robust information to
decision-makers
3. Assuming leadership roles when opportunities are presented
The engineer can contribute to a positive future by providing
leadership in their area of practice
The Model Code of Practice
Think Global – Act Local
• The Model Code of Practice identifies ten principles that engineers
can follow to establish leadership
• Each Code principle provides context
– Detailed guidance
– Explanatory commentary
• The Code principles ….
1. Knowledge & Competency 6. Planning & Management
2. Limits to Competency 7. Innovation
3. Social Impacts 8. Communication & Consultation
4. Sustainability Outcomes 9. Regulatory & Legal
5. Costing & Economics Requirements
10. Risk Mitigation
Model Code of Practice 1
Knowledge & Competency
Maintain and continuously improve awareness
and understanding of environmental steward
ship & sustainability principles
Engineers should:
• Recognize the extent that professional activities
affect the environment and sustainability
• Have a working knowledge of sustainability
• Recognize the importance of Environmental
Management Systems (EMS)
• Stay informed of major environmental issues
• Maintain expertise and keep up with
advancements
Model Code of Practice 2
Limits to Competency
Use expertise of others in the areas
where your own knowledge is not
adequate
Engineers should:
• Recognize that environmental issues
and sustainability are interdisciplinary
in nature
• Undertake only the aspects of environmental work that they are
competent to perform
• Seek out and use environmental specialists to provide expert advice on
environmental issues
• Consult disciplines outside of engineering
– Social impacts
– External economic impacts
Model Code of Practice 3
Social Impacts
Incorporate global, regional and
local societal values applicable to
your work
Engineers should:
• Keep a broad perspective beyond local
conditions and the immediate future
• Note that local conditions and social impacts influence engineering
actions
• Identify the positive and negative effects of proposed actions
• Seek information and input on societal values
• Look beyond initial solutions to better understand broader consequences
• Entertain a healthy skepticism on behalf of the public good
Model Code of Practice 4
Sustainability Outcomes
Implement sustainability outcomes at the earliest possible
stage employing all applicable standards and criteria
Engineers should:
• Begin the environmental assessment • Recognize the value of multi-
process at the earliest planning stages disciplinary involvement in decision
of an initiative making
• Consider scientific research, • Identify and promote cost-efficient
engineering design principles and local solutions that integrate social,
operating experiences environmental and economic factors
• Comply with environmental • Communicate relevant technical,
assessment requirements economic, environmental, and social
information to decision-makers
• Explore, develop and document criteria
which reflect sustainability standards
Model Code of Practice 5
Costing and Economics
Assess the costs and benefits of environmental
protection and sustainability in evaluating the
economic viability of work
Engineers should
• Conduct and economic analysis of their project in
comparison to the benefits
• Include all capital, operating, maintenance,
commissioning, decommissioning, social and
environmental costs into the analysis
• Include environmental protection and sustainability in life cycle assessment
• Consider true costs including the use of a raw resources, manufacturing, by-products
and end-of-life disposal
• Recognize that environmental protection and associated costs are integral to project
development
– Costs and benefits of GHG reduction
– Costs of adaptation to improve resilience to the impacts of changing climate
Model Code of Practice 6
Planning and Management
Integrate environmental stewardship and sustainability
planning into life-cycle planning and management of activities
Engineers should: • Design and operate infrastructure to
minimize environmental impacts
• Recognize that their projects may have
impacts on the environment • Find innovative ways to minimize the
need for resources
• Identify environmental effects and
sustainability aspects of a project • Account for the short, long-term,
direct and indirect consequences
• Prevent adverse effects
• Assess reasonable alternatives
• Seek opportunities to protect and
enhance the environment and its • Monitor the effect of changing climate
sustainability
• Comply with all relevant legislation,
• Use an EMS approvals and orders
Model Code of Practice 7
Innovation
Seek innovations that achieve a balance between environmental, social and
economic factors while contributing to healthy surroundings in both the built
and natural environment.
Engineers should:
• Play a key role in transforming science into
technology for application in the real world as
structured problem solvers
• Recognize that innovative solutions can be
reapplied throughout the profession
• Recognize that resources may be limited
• Balance environmental, social & economic
factors
• Promote the re-application of good innovative
solutions
Model Code of Practice 8
Communication and Consultation
Develop locally appropriate engagement processes for stakeholders
Engineers should
• Assign a high priority to informing • Encourage stakeholder involvement
internal and external stakeholders
• Recognize need for local,
– Accountability, inclusiveness,
transparency, commitment and neighborhood, traditional and input
responsiveness
• Document their approach to problem
• Reach out to all who are affected solving
• Provide clear, timely and complete • Immediately advise employers and
information clients of concerns
• Allocate sufficient resources • Work with other disciplines
• Be responsive, accessible and • Share expertise
endeavor to understand public and
other stakeholder concerns • Participate in professional societies
Model Code of Practice 9
Regulatory and Legal Requirements
Ensure that projects comply with regulatory and legal requirements
Engineers should:
• Maintain knowledge of local legal • Maintain confidentiality unless
requirements otherwise required by relevant laws,
regulations, approvals or orders
• Ensure proper documentation
• Notify proper authorities where they
• Manage & assign professional believe that public safety or the
responsibility for both action and
omission environment is endangered
• Apply international or other national
• Comply with all relevant legislation,
regulations, codes or standards
approvals & orders
judged to be locally appropriate
• Endeavour to go above and beyond - Countries where limited regulatory
standards and regulatory requirements standards exist
• Keep authorities aware of environmental
effects
Model Code of Practice 10
Risk Mitigation
Mitigate risk to minimize environmental impacts
Engineers should:
• Use precautionary, risk assessment,
processes to recommend actions to
protect, restore & improve the
environment
• Address uncertainties in scientific
data or incomplete evidence of
adverse impacts through risk
management
• Understand the consequences of
actions and also of inaction
• Provide decision-makers a clear
statement of the actions required to
protect, restore & improve the
environment
Leadership in Sustainability and
Environmental Stewardship
“The engineering profession must lead the way and be seen to lead the
way towards a more sustainable future.”
• Engineers can work towards better solutions
and contribute to the profession’s ability to
promote sustainability and environmental
stewardship
• The World Federation of Engineering
Organizations and its more than 15 million
engineers worldwide have pledged to
engage in sustainable development and
environmental stewardship in the practice
of engineering
Questions
More Information
David Lapp, FEC, P.Eng.
+1 (613) 232-2474 Extension 240
[email protected]
