Climate change report welcomed but more engineers needed to deliver results

01 December 2008

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), one of the world’s leading societies for the science, engineering and technology communities with 150,000 members in 127 countries, has welcomed today’s Committee on Climate Change report, entitled “Building a low-carbon economy”.

Chris Earnshaw, IET president, said, "The IET welcomes this report which sends a clear signal to the world that the UK remains committed to long term reduction of emissions. This is particularly relevant in view of the fact that the EU is set to agree its flagship energy and climate change package.

“The report brings a much needed focus by setting near term budgets and timescales. It clearly outlines the challenges we face and sets out solutions. To arrive at solutions, however, you need problem solvers - you need engineers. It is the engineers who harness concepts and make them a reality – science will not roll out by itself.

“The issue of climate change is an urgent one and we must not defer action or rely on a silver bullet or as yet unproven technology. Now is not the time for faint hearts – it is a time for vigour and action. We must adopt known science and technology to engineer scalable solutions which can be deployed quickly. We must also reinvigorate applied research into practical low carbon solutions that can be widely deployed.

“If, as the report suggests, the majority of the 80 per cent of reductions targeted may need to be achieved in the long term via domestic action, we should adequately support and resource this sector. Our own 2008 skills survey showed a significant skills gap at all levels in the engineering and technology professions. We cannot let this situation go on.”

Media enquiries to:

Robert Beahan
Press officer
T: +44 (0)1438 767336
M: +44 (0)7595 400912
E: rbeahan@theiet.org

Mary Donovan
Head of communications
T: +44 (0)1438 765587
M: +44 (0)7725 498117
E: mdonovan@theiet.org