“Massive storms hit Texas Hill Country; Tornado touches down in New York; Heat dome over the mid-west and northeast causes record temperatures; Canadian wildfires create unhealthy air in the northeast”.  These and other alarms are some of the recent headlines, weather conditions caused, science tells us are the result of climate change – global warming. 

For decades, scientists and researchers have cautioned us about excessive emissions of greenhouse gases that will cause the earth to warm and set off a chain reaction of adverse conditions.  Many believe that the damage is done and it is too late to reverse this evolving condition.  It seems that the world lacks the political will to deal with the root causes of this condition - the overuse of fossil fuels by industrialized nations.

We must adapt or die.  While we as engineers, design professionals and science experts, did not cause the condition and were powerless to stop it, ultimately, we must lead the world as all adapt to this new reality.

Those of us who studied traffic engineering might recall the “Three E’s” of traffic safety; Education, Enforcement, and Engineering.  These principles can be applied to this problem (and many others in our profession) as well:

• Speak up
• Write professional memoranda to decision makers about the potential risk of taking a certain action. 
  • For example, a school district has been granted eleven acres of property on which to build a new school to serve a growing subdivision.  The problem is that the property lies at the base of a hill in an area known for flash flooding and, while the area may not be mapped nor designated a flood hazard zone, the potential for disastrous flooding exists.  A qualified engineer can and should alert the district decision makers of the potential hazard and suggest studies or a design that will eliminate or mitigate the risk.
• Participate in organizational committees and outreach activities that address climate related issues.

Enforcement: 

• In most places in the US and Canada, hazard zones are known, designated and mapped.
• While the effects of global warming have made many of these maps obsolete, they can provide a sound basis for decisions on where to locate facilities and how to protect them. Government agencies must consider these and the potential changes within the areas.  They must educate users of these areas of the potential dangers and as public officials must take the necessary steps to provide warnings and protection.
•  We also have codes and standards that should be followed regardless of their adoption or lack thereof by governing bodies. 

Engineering:  This is the design, procurement and installation of public works that will mitigate the effects of a hazard.

 

• In the case of a flood potential these works might include channels, detention basins, an extensive flood warning system or a no-build designation. 
• For mitigation of wildfire, it might be forest clearing, controlled burn or mastication of underbrush. 

Engineering solutions may be costly, time consuming and may introduce other undesirable side effects such as destruction of habitat or diversion of waterways from their traditional path. These must be carefully considered and alternatives reviewed.  Education and enforcement will be important if these decisions must be implemented.

Too often, we as design professionals are not consulted or, when consulted, our professional recommendations are dismissed for “other considerations”, most often political or economic considerations.   But the laws of physics will always prevail over political exigencies.  To combat these “other considerations” we must develop a deep and abiding trust in those we serve.  This takes time and no small amount of effort.

 

But…. we must keep public safety and public trust paramount.  And….we have a duty to warn.

 

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

 

Quote By: 

 

Melody Beattie  

 

We can help. 

NOW DELIVERING: 

Engineers: Jurisdiction License Renewal Date    07/2026   Indiana, Vermont, Wisconsin    08/2026   Washington D.C.    09/2026   Arizona, Louisiana, Texas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If your license renews on your date of birth this month, or by state requirement when your license origination occurred, or any other jurisdiction imposed requirement, it's time to renew.

 

Contact us to receive a sample custom monthly credentials report containing:

 

1.

All A/E/LA national and international licensure status with renewal dates 

2.
Professional affiliation membership types with renewal dates 

3.
Current multi-discipline continuing education requirements needed 

4.
 Comprehensive recorded history of categorized education credits

Learn more about our innovative and easy-to-use service at: AECredentialing .

com

 

Contact Details:

LS Credentialing Services LLC

P.O. Box 91

Olathe, KS 66051

Lexi@AECredentialing.com
913-424-5606