Famela Clarice P.

Paghasian July 10, 2020

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Engineers' Role in Environmental Protection

Our planet, as we know it, grows along those who live in it. The environment adapts to
the changes we’re causing and in return, we adapt to how it responds back to us. As the quality
of our lifestyle increases through time, there is also an increase in the demand of higher quality
resources.

According to the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) and

the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) publicized by Oxford Business Group, by the end of
2016, there was a total of 359,572 vehicle units sold in the Philippines. 63% of the sales were
commercial vehicles. It was significantly higher by 24.6% in comparison to the annual sales in
2015. In 2017, a whopping 27.8% increase in automotive purchases were recorded in
comparison to 2016. As the number of vehicles drving down the streets increases, more
changes have become more observable in the environment in terms of air quality and public
health. That’s when engineers are needed to find solutions to the surging effects of these
changes that might become a threat to both the people and the environment when not properly
treated.

To properly execute measure for environmental protection, an engineer must be

knowledgeable of the issues. An engineer must be innovative and a great critical thinker in order
to design solutions which are not only effective but also economical and sustainable. The
perfect example of this is Kushagra Srivastava. He is one of the three Indian engineers who
developed the technology of capturing smoke or exhaust and turn it into an ink, according to the
World Economic Forum. Air pollution is prevalent in India due to the extensive use of diesel
generators to cater power outages during scorching hot summers in New Delhi.

It is very important for engineering students like me to be able to learn and integrate
important concepts in environmental engineering because even though the environment can
heal itself, it has to keep up the growing needs of the global society. It is every engineer’s
responsibility to assist or yet avoid further damage as much as possible. Innovation is very
important to develop and improve existing technologies which are not only economical but also
ecological. In fact, it is stated in the Environmental Ethics that engineers must use their
knowledge and skills in a way that enhances and protects the welfare of the environment. A
case which shows how crucial knowledge of environmental engineering concepts are for
engineers is the raw sewage spill in a resort in Acapulco, Mexico. Officials have stated that the
spill was likely due to broken drains caused by heavy rains. The sewage system was probably
poorly designed or constructed thus polluting the beaches.

SOURCES:

https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/analysis/pole-position-auto-manufacturing-set-take-demand-grows

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/05/this-indian-invention-turns-smoke-into-ink/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8480003/Nauseating-torrent-raw-sewage-spills-Acapulco-
beach-horrified-tourists.html