We left you last week with news of the release of the rather disturbing results of our survey of collusion in the construction industry, and now comes the political debate about the government’s decision to hold a public inquiry into the construction industry. Allegations of collusion have too long tarnished the reputation of engineers, and many voices have joined in asking for this inquiry.  Engineers have clearly expressed their wish for it and they are now waiting for concrete results.

However, this week, I would like to talk to you about sustainable development.  At RéseauIQ we hope to see our members more involved in meeting the challenges of this paradigm. For example, with the ISO 26000 standard to be published this year, engineers will have to adapt quickly to new ways of handling this social responsibility. In 2006 the Québec government adopted its Sustainable Development Act, so let’s be quite clear about it: this is a reality facing the world of engineering, whether wanted or not, but at the same time it is an opportunity to affirm our leadership in this area.

At RéseauIQ we have decided to provide training in early spring to help prepare you for sustainable development. "The engineer, sustainable development leader: integrating sustainable development in engineering projects,” on March 31 and April 1, and “LED Lighting: inescapable for sustainable development,” on April 15 and 16¹ . These training courses are important because they deal with the many aspects of integrating sustainable development in engineering projects. There can be no doubt about it: sustainable development is no longer just the business of environmentalists.  After all, engineers are the professionals best qualified to plan, execute and assess projects that adopt a sustainability approach.

If you talk of sustainable development, you are also talking about economic development, environmental protection and social development. The challenges implied are in many fields of activity and this means there are business opportunities.  Here are just a few: energy efficiency, renovation and design of new electricity production capacity, transportation and bioenergy development and the manufacture and improvement of various products and services, all from the perspective of green and environmentally respectful progress. Sustainable development is not an impediment to engineering practice, as many still fear.  Instead it offers us numerous opportunities for the future.

I therefore invite you to contact our Career and Continuing Education Centre to find out more.  Be ready: sustainable development is our business.

François P. Granger, Eng.
President
Réseau des ingénieurs du Québec



¹For more information, consult our site at http://www.reseauiq.qc.ca/en/jobs/training.html