Overview
Promoting economic growth whilst responding to climate change and the depletion of natural resources.
Mechanical engineers work at the very core of economic growth, be it in the generation and distribution of energy, the transport and built infrastructure that supports developed and developing nations, or the design and manufacture of consumer goods.
In today's world these activities face significant challenges around environmental and sustainability issues and the profession is continuously engaged in finding solutions to society's concerns in these areas. Learn more about the Environment theme.
Latest news and initiatives
Each week, we compile a round up of the very latest news from the UK media about key developments in climate change and energy policy, including topics such as climate science, alternative energy, nuclear power, and geo-engineering:
View the latest climate change news bulletin
Professional Engineers and Climate Science: an Institution Summit
One Birdcage Walk, Thursday 20 May
Professional engineers of all disciplines are being asked to respond to the challenges of climate change in three ways: reducing greenhouse gas emissions; adapting our physical world to meet the future climate; and assessing geo-engineering approaches to cooling the planet.
Our response needs to be based on input data, in these cases data on projections of future climate. We are reliant on data provided by climate scientists and modellers. It is therefore appropriate for us to ask questions regarding the data, particularly around issues of accuracy, uncertainty and robustness.
As professional engineers, and not climate scientists, we are not in a position to answer these questions ourselves so the Institution of Mechanical Engineers is hosting a special summit which will enable professional engineers and climate science experts to exchange information on this subject.
Attend the Summit
This free-to-attend Summit will be held at One Birdcage Walk on the afternoon of Thursday 20 May. Three eminent scientists from the climate science and modeling community will respond as an expert panel to questions put by our profession. Confirmed panelists are:
- Professor Sir Brian Hoskins FRS, Head of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College
- Professor Tim Lenton from the University of East Anglia
- Dr Vicky Pope, Head of Climate Change Advice at the Meteorological Office
Space at the summit is limited, so preference will be given to IMechE members, and members of other professional engineering bodies. To apply to attend please sign up as soon as possible, the deadline for applications is 6 May: Apply here.
Submit a question
Delegates are welcome to submit relevant written questions before the event for consideration by the scientists. These will be collated into these three groups and underlying themes or questions determined:
- Temperature measurement and temperature datasets
- Climate mechanisms (Carbon dioxide and others)
- Effects of global warming on climate and weather
A definitive set of questions under each theme will be assembled and sent to the panel to enable the preparation of short presentations that address the key issues raised. On the day itself, the Summit Chair will receive the expert responses and then enter a dialogue with the panel to ensure we have a clear understanding of the answers.
Please use the form here to submit a question for consideration by the panel; all questions need to be received before close of business on 6 May 2010.