Comment: The need for clarity around carbon03 September 2024

I have recently been reading SOE’s review of the UK Government’s 2020 white paper: ‘Energy white paper: powering our net zero future’. The SOE’s assessment stated that while the white paper set out actions that supported reductions of greenhouse gases around the UK, it also promoted actions that threatened this goal. SOE also said that to meet the stated aim of stopping global warming, the concentration of greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere – through both human action and natural occurrence – must be less than the rate at which they are removed.

While the white paper was looking at greenhouse gases, its focus appeared to be on ‘carbon’ emissions. It’s important to state that the carbon atom is not a greenhouse gas. Although, it is part of the greenhouse gas molecules carbon dioxide and methane. Powering the operation of plant and equipment can result in more greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere than just carbon dioxide. Nitrogen oxides and water vapour being the main two examples. Neither of these greenhouse gases contain carbon.

The demise of coal as an energy source has reduced carbon dioxide emissions. However, this trend has been offset by an increased use of hydrocarbons and carbohydrates, with both resulting in increased emissions of water vapour. With claims that water vapour is causing about half of the greenhouse effect, should we be trying to reduce the amount of additional water vapour entering the atmosphere? If so, then we need a change in focus from ending the burning of carbon to one of lowering the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Achieving lower concentrations safely, efficiently and sustainably requires an approach that reflects the Engineering Council and Royal Academy of Engineers joint Statement of Ethical Principles for all engineering professionals. Recognition of the professional engineer’s role in achieving this is also needed. Professional engineering institutions’ codes of professional conduct incorporate the four fundamental principles of the Statement of Ethical Principles. Therefore, SOE membership identifies individual’s commitment to the Statement of Ethical Principles. Recognition of the professional engineer’s role will have been achieved when everyone is proactively seeking to secure that all engineers in positions of engineering responsibility are Engineering Council registered.

Achieving this goal needs all SOE members to promulgate the benefits, for the whole of society, that would come from having all engineers in positions of engineering responsibility Engineering Council registered.

Ian Jackson, chair, IPlantE

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