Engineering for Sustainable Development: Delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals (UNESCO, 2021)

What is this about?

This UNESCO flagship report explores how engineering must transform to meet the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda. It synthesizes global evidence and case studies to show how engineering education, research, practice and governance can be aligned with the SDGs. Chapters map the discipline’s contributions across clean water and sanitation, energy, health systems, resilient infrastructure, climate action and sustainable cities, and examine the enabling conditions—open science, equitable participation, ethics, and strong professional standards—needed to scale impact. The report argues that engineering’s knowledge system should become more interdisciplinary and mission-driven, combining technical proficiency with systems thinking, stakeholder engagement and attention to social justice. It highlights the importance of digital technologies, open data and collaboration platforms to accelerate innovation, and documents regional gaps in engineering capacity, gender representation and funding. Policy-focused sections outline actions for governments, universities, industry and professional bodies: reform curricula towards problem-based learning; strengthen lifelong upskilling; invest in research infrastructure; support open access to publications and data; and build inclusive pathways into engineering careers. The report also surfaces governance levers—standards, procurement, and public–private partnerships—that can steer engineering solutions toward sustainability and away from lock-in effects. Throughout, practical vignettes show how community co-design and context-aware innovation produce durable results, from decentralized water treatment to off-grid energy and climate-smart agriculture. By framing engineering as a cornerstone of sustainable development rather than a neutral technical service, the volume provides a common language for funders, policymakers and practitioners to align priorities and metrics.

For whom is this important?

engineer

Other information