During New York Climate Week, ICSI proudly launched its new position paper, Understanding the Landscape of Global Engineering Capacity and Capability. The paper was launched at a panel session titled Is Our Global Engineering Workforce Fit for the Future? The event, hosted by The Resilience Hub and kindly supported by the Berger Charitable Foundation, brought together thought leaders from across engineering and academia, to tackle one of the most pressing global challenges: the critical shortage of engineering talent needed to build a more sustainable and resilient future. 

The panel was moderated by Savina Carluccio, Executive Director of ICSI, and featured notable speakers, including:

  • Sofia Berger, Earth and Environment Business Line Executive, WSP
  • Chris Bradshaw, Chief Sustainability Officer, Bentley Systems
  • Marsia Geldert-Murphey, P.E., 2024 Global President, American Society of Civil Engineers
  • Victoria Matthew, Network Manager, Engineering for One Planet
  • Daniel A. Zarrilli, P.E., Chief Climate & Sustainability Officer, Columbia University

The panel honed in on important conversations about the widening gap between the supply of skilled engineers and the urgent demand for sustainable infrastructure. As the world faces growing threats from climate change and rapid urbanisation, it has become clear that we are not adequately preparing the global engineering workforce for the challenges ahead. The panelists spoke to how this shortage, and the current state of engineering education and capacity-building efforts, directly impact the future of infrastructure.

A key focus of the discussion was the need to inspire the next generation of engineers. There is a growing consensus that engineering must be seen not only as a technical profession but also as a vital part of creating societal change. If we are to encourage more young people to pursue this path, engineers themselves need to do a better job of showcasing the profound social impact that engineering can have. Similarly, the panellists advocated for better recognition of engineers’ contributions to building safe, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure. 

The panel topic closely echoed the findings in ICSI’s new position paper, which provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of global engineering capacity and the key competencies needed for the future. The paper highlights the importance of systems thinking to balance the social, economic and environmental considerations required to design infrastructure that works for everyone. This was a recurring theme throughout the discussion, with speakers emphasising that engineers must learn to engage meaningfully with communities and stakeholders to create solutions that are truly inclusive.

The conversation around the transformation of engineering education spoke directly to one of the paper’s key focuses. Panelists made clear that universities and training programmes are not evolving fast enough to meet the demands of a world in crisis. The discussion highlighted the urgent need for more experiential learning opportunities, where students can gain practical, hands-on experience and learn how their work impacts broader societal outcomes. Engineering touches every facet of life, from healthcare to transportation, and education must reflect this interconnectedness. Systems thinking is essential, and engineering schools must prepare future professionals to tackle these challenges with a holistic approach. 

Technological advances were also highlighted as a critical tool to accelerate sustainable infrastructure development, with the need to make emerging technologies more accessible in educational and professional spaces.

Finally, the event stressed the importance of collaboration across sectors. Governments, industries, and academic institutions must work together to ensure that engineering graduates are prepared to address the complex challenges of sustainability and climate resilience. This collaborative spirit is key to scaling up efforts to close the engineering talent gap, a theme echoed in the paper’s call to action.

The newly launched ICSI position paper, which reviews over 120 references and 100 capacity-building initiatives, delves into these issues in greater depth, reviewing existing data on global engineering capacity and outlining six actionable recommendations for building a workforce that is fit for the future. It underscores the importance of aligning education and professional development with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and calls for urgent action to ensure that engineers are equipped to design and build the infrastructure necessary to meet the climate crisis head-on. This publication was made possible with support from the Berger Charitable Foundation, Bentley Systems and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy.

Download the paper: Understanding the Landscape of Global Engineering Capacity and Capability.