The city of the future

What is the most pressing need in our society today? I put to you two big challenges. Firstly, we need to act with speed and scale to prevent human-made climate change. And secondly, we need to decipher how to satisfy the need of a growing population within the finite resource capacity of the planet.

We only have 10 years to make big inroads into these challenges, and only 30 years to solve them. That means our working lifetime. For climate change, the recent IPCC report has clearly spelled out the rapid and far-reaching changes facing us if global average temperatures rise by more than 1.5 °C. Currently, we’re heading for 3.5 °C. Sir David Attenborough, the world-famous natural historian, has said that if we don’t act, we’re facing collapse of civilisation and extinction of much of the natural world. Serious stuff indeed.

Furthermore, population is forecast to increase by a further 3 billion people. Consumption and waste will rise accordingly, putting unbearable pressure on our one and only planet to sustain us. Most of us will live in cities, so every city we are ever going to need will be built in the next 30 years. So, we must build them sustainably.

Fortunately, we already have a roadmap to a sustainable future: the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The 17 SDGs are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The SDGs recognise that sustainable cities, transport, water and energy systems are the key to our future.

There is endless business opportunity for those nations and businesses that are willing to respond and who view the sustainability challenge not just as a risk to be mitigated but as a driver of innovation.

There is endless business opportunity for those nations and businesses that are willing to respond and who view the sustainability challenge not just as a risk to be mitigated but as a driver of innovation.

For example, the move to a low-carbon economy is inevitable. It can’t be stopped. Miss out on the innovation and our nation – take note, Australia – or your business will become uncompetitive.

Likewise, resource and environmental limitations will create opportunities for business models that are circular, restorative, even regenerative. Through creative design, AI and other clever solutions we can de-couple economic growth from environmental impact and preserve our planet for the benefit of our children. This is the greatest business opportunity we can get, right here, right now.

I am hugely optimistic. We have the capability; we just need the political will.

In my last year of studying engineering at Sydney University, I attended a careers fair, where government and private organisations come to the campus to conduct interviews for jobs that would be taken up on completion of studies. I took this very seriously and fronted up in a new blue suit; red-white-and-blue striped shirt; and a brightly coloured tie.

Looking back, I guess I looked rather colourful. But I was quite nervous when I fronted up to an interview with a large state government employer, the Department of Main Roads. Three men were lined up in front of me to conduct the interview, all dressed identically. All had beards, beige cardigans, brown pants, fawn shirts, and paisley ties.

So I was quite shocked when one of the men opened immediately with a commentary on my attire: “Mr Bailey, if you want to be an engineer, you need to look like an engineer.” One of the others beside him said: “Yes, you know, like us.”

We need people of all types, of all backgrounds, of different cultures, different genders.

I can’t remember the rest of the interview. I was in a state of shock and acutely embarrassed that I’d missed the mark so badly. Even worse, the coolest potential employer on campus was, amazingly, an accounting firm called Peat Marwick – later to become one of the founding parts of today’s KPMG. All the Peat Marwick guys were dressed like me. Maybe I was in the wrong profession? Maybe I didn’t belong?

Needless to say, I didn’t get the Department of Main Roads job. Instead, I picked up a scholarship at Sydney University to do a research Master’s studying tall buildings in the wind tunnel, and it was there I came across a firm called Arup, one of the most innovative and socially progressive engineering firms in the world. And the rest is history – I still work there today.

Turns out those three beige wise men did me a favour.

My point: there is no typical engineer or doctor or data scientist. And if we are to solve the world’s challenges and create a safe, equitable and sustainable world, let alone be successful in business, we need people of all types, of all backgrounds, of different cultures, different genders. The world needs people with diverse life experiences to come up with novel and creative solutions in what they do. Every single one of us has something unique to offer – family history, cultural background, education.

Women, especially – the engineering world needs you. Aside from your intelligence and competence, you have a unique female perspective that society and the engineering profession in particular sorely needs as we develop just and sustainable solutions focused on people.

As Greta Thunberg, Sweden’s teenaged climate activist says: “Take opportunity; be active. Don’t just be concerned, get angry.”

Engineers, this is our time to shine.

* This is an edited version of a recent speech given to graduates at UTS Sydney.