The Committee on Engineering and the Environment of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO-CEE) is committed to exercising a leading role in environmental engineering technologies, applications, and demonstrations, while actively promoting the global engineering community’s responsibility in advancing sustainable development. The Committee focuses on issues closely aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with particular attention to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and strong support for SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 14: Life Below Water, and SDG 15: Life on Land. WFEO-CEE endeavors to foster the transformation of engineering research outcomes into practical applications that contribute to global environmental sustainability and to advocate for the essential role of engineering in achieving green development, low-carbon transitions, and resource efficiency.

To better coordinate global resources, address common technical challenges and policy demands in green industrial transformation, and enhance the integrative strength of engineering expertise, we propose the establishment of four specialized subcommittees:

Subcommittee on Green Paper-Making and Resource Recycling

Objectives

To promote green, low-carbon, and circular transformation in the paper-making industry, by advancing clean production technologies and closed-loop resource utilization systems, and contributing to SDG 12 and SDG 15.

Key Responsibilities

  • Facilitate international collaboration in clean pulping, chlorine-free bleaching, water-saving processes, and biomass utilization.
  • Promote engineering research and demonstration projects in fiber recycling, sludge treatment, and energy recovery.
  • Contribute to the development of industry-specific green standards and policy frameworks.
  • Support capacity-building programs and organize workshops on eco-innovation in the paper and pulp sectors.

Expected Outcomes

  • Establishment of a global platform for technical cooperation in green paper-making.
  • Publication of technical guidelines and policy recommendations.
  • Development of a repository of best practices in resource recycling in paper industries.
Subcommittee on Green Metallurgy

Objectives

To promote sustainable transformation in the metallurgy sector through environmental engineering innovations, aiming to reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, and support responsible production practices (SDG 12, SDG 13).

Key Responsibilities

  • Drive technological innovation in flue gas desulfurization, heavy metal emission control, and solid waste utilization.
  • Facilitate international joint research on low-carbon metallurgical processes and green smelting technologies.
  • Advocate for the integration of environmental performance indicators into metallurgical industry standards.
  • Host symposia and expert panels to promote interdisciplinary dialogue among academia, industry, and regulators.

Expected Outcomes

  • International knowledge-sharing network for green metallurgy practices.
  • Contribution to international engineering standards and guidelines.
  • Enhanced global visibility of innovative Chinese and international practices.
Subcommittee on Green Textile

Objectives

To promote sustainable innovation in the textile industry by advancing eco-friendly materials, green dyeing and finishing technologies, and sustainable supply chain management, in alignment with SDG 12 and SDG 14.

Key Responsibilities

  • Support research and application of biodegradable fibers, bio-based polymers, and waterless dyeing technologies.
  • Promote LCA-based (Life Cycle Assessment) approaches in textile design and production.
  • Collaborate with global brands, regulators, and engineering institutions to shape responsible consumption models.
  • Organize international forums and training programs on sustainable textile engineering.

Expected Outcomes

  • Technical roadmap for green textile production.
  • Pilot projects and demonstration zones for green textile supply chains.
  • Engagement of youth and SMEs in sustainable textile innovations.
Subcommittee on Urban Mining and Pollution Control

Objectives

To foster the development of environmentally sound urban resource recovery systems and pollution control engineering, contributing to urban sustainability (SDG 11, SDG 13).

Key Responsibilities

  • Promote clean technologies for the recycling of e-waste, plastics, solar panels, and spent batteries.
  • Support applied research in the extraction of critical raw materials and the reuse of industrial by-products.
  • Facilitate development of smart urban mining systems integrating AI, sensor networks, and digital monitoring.
  • Lead engineering efforts to mitigate secondary pollution risks during resource recovery.

Expected Outcomes

  • A global knowledge base on environmentally sound urban mining practices.
  • Technical training modules and standards for pollution control in waste processing.
  • Multi-stakeholder policy dialogues and recommendations to local and national governments.

These subcommittees aim to strengthen research, technical cooperation, and international dialogue in key subfields of environmental engineering, and to enhance WFEO-CEE’s organizational capacity, influence, and engineering contribution toward the implementation of the UN SDGs.