Can engineers fix the world?

“By thinking about the long term, instead of the short term, which is what you'll always see wherever you go. Keep in mind that the road laid out in front of us doesn't lead to change.”

“We can't move forward unless we invest in research and development, approach the initial problem from a different angle and abandon the incremental model as we look to create disruptive innovations.”

“It's a combination of constraints and desires. We need to set ourselves constraints, limitations and standards if these technologies are to enter mainstream use, rather than becoming a passing fad. However, it's also important for everyone to have the desire to picture themselves living in an environmentally-friendly world and come up with new ecological narratives that can empower others.”

“Experimenting with solutions that respect the living world is the stage that comes before sharing feedback. Showing what's possible and embracing those experiences with enthusiasm seems to be the fastest way of inspiring change.”

“On the one hand, we should stop or do our best to avoid using or contributing to the creation of products or services in companies whose activities use resource-intensive processes. On the other hand, we should help promote more resource-efficient technologies by prioritising them in our choices and taking part in their development through our work or through our involvement in an association.”

“We need to create technologies that will prompt us to think long and hard about our relationship with things, while prioritising frugality at every level (resources, energy, finance, maintenance, etc.). For example, we shouldn't be thinking about how we can design a car that creates less pollution. Instead, we should be thinking about how we can encourage people to cut down on their travel or sign up to travel-sharing schemes.”