Environmental ethics in engineering education: a missing fundamental

Abstract

This paper reviews the way in which engineers interact with the environment. It argues that future engineering should be part of a paradigm shift in which engineers are seen as responsible stewards rather than negligent trustees of the environment. This can be accomplished by education in environmental ethics, defined here as a set of obligations to nature characterised by a mindset geared towards pollution prevention and pollution remediation. It is argued that training in environmental ethics should be considered as a fundamental skill taught in all engineering programmes. The paper closes with a suggested outline of a first course in environmental ethics.