The main outputs of the CEE strategy will be aimed to address SDG 13 on Climate Action, with a ‘watching brief’ on SDGs 6, 7, 9 and 11. These efforts are supported by two task groups:

Climate Change Adaptation

The Climate Change Adaptation Task Group represents WFEO at the UNFCC intersessional meetings and the conference of parties’ meetings (COP). They attend the events to share engineering best practice from WFEO members on climate change adaptation. This group has also developed the Principles of Climate Change Adaptation for Engineers code of practice which they continue to promote and will seek to update in 2020.

Climate Change Mitigation

The Climate Change Mitigation Task Group will assess and promote engineering practices to mitigate climate change, and to integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. This groups will look at national climate change plans and how engineers can help governments by providing the engineering basis for national climate change plans. It is proposed to develop Principles of net-zero carbon infrastructure for Engineers.

The CEE aims to provide insight and recommendations on both climate change adaptation and climate change mitigation to international organisations such as UN bodies.

The WFEO Declaration on Climate Emergency

The CEE spearheads the WFEO Declaration on Climate Emergency, which was created following the 2019 General Assembly in Melbourne, and in the frame of the COP25 in Madrid. The Committee utilises this Declaration as guidance because its ambitious objectives will require constant focus in the years to come, and encourages all WFEO member organisations to sign it and take action on its 11 commitments.

The Committee also work to invite public, private and third sector organisations to adopt and pursue the WFEO Declaration of Climate Emergency.

Through this Declaration and its promotion, the CEE wishes to:

  • Highlight the importance of engineering in mitigating and adapting to climate change.
  • Create awareness of climate change among national member engineering organisations.
  • Align with the United Nations declarations on climate change.
  • Strive for a diverse and inclusive engineering community that can work collaboratively towards innovative climate mitigation strategies.
  • Engage women and young engineers in particular to combat climate change.
  • Illuminate the effect of climate change on women and disadvantaged groups worldwide, and seek to use this information to ensure that no one is left behind.
  • Support developing countries on engineering knowledge in climate change mitigation and adaptation best practice.