Urging Sustainable Development - How far are engineers bound to go to guard environmental surroundings?

摘要

Professional engineering societies' codes of ethics declare that engineers have a fundamental ethical obligation to hold paramount public health, safety, and welfare. But how far does this obligation go? Does the obligation to practice harmoniously with the welfare of the public include an obligation, for example, to reduce world poverty? Is that too much of a stretch? Economic growth is a key driver of economic prosperity. It makes sense to conclude that growth is essential to reducing poverty. But it also is recognized that growth at any cost generally is not sustainable. Responsible growth - growth that embraces both environmental sustainability and social development - is what really may be required to reduce poverty.