Climate Change

Engineers design devices and procedures to help us adapt to and lessen the severity of climate change impacts!

The human-caused phenomenon of climate change is negatively affecting global ecosystems, food production and human health.

Climate change describes the shift in long-term weather patterns that can cause temperature changes and alter the average amount of rainfall or snowfall in a particular region. Earth’s climate has naturally changed throughout its history.

However, scientists have observed that our planet's surface is warming more rapidly overall, especially in recent decades, due to higher greenhouse gas emissions that come from our increasing use of fossil fuels.

As a result, our impact on Earth's climate system is evident world-wide, for example, in the faster melting of glaciers and ice caps, which contributes to sea level rise, and the frequency and severity of weather-related natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, drought and wildfires.

Engineers can help the situation

Engineers have a huge opportunity to help shape how we impact and respond to climate change now and in the future through positive actions.

• Environmental engineers design products and systems to clean up air and water pollution.

• Civil and mechanical engineers can reduce our impact on the environment by changing and designing new materials used in modern technology.

Engineers also create and use alternative energy sources such as geothermal power, solar power and biomass energy to slow the emission of greenhouse gases.