Chemical Engineers Delivering Climate Change Action

In the lead-up to COP26, Amanda Lake discusses how IChemE is delivering on its climate change commitments, what to look out for, and how you can get involved

THE recent publication of the Sixth Assessment Report¹ from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provided an update on climate science which showed that climate change is widespread, and that “many of the changes observed in the climate are unprecedented in thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of years, and some of the changes already set in motion – such as continued sea level rise – are irreversible over hundreds to thousands of years”². Scientists agree that strong and sustained reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) would limit climate change and deliver benefits in air quality today.

IChemE published its Position on Climate Change statement³ in November 2020, recognising that chemical engineers are uniquely placed to take action and to help reverse the catastrophic impacts that humans are currently imposing on the life support systems of our planet. Importantly, it contains a set of principles and tangible commitments around what that means for IChemE and its members.

Delivering on principles and commitments