Opinion

Talkin’ about my generation

Hopes for a low carbon future will rest upon the resolve of young engineers, architects and others in the supply chain to work together, argues Morwenna Wilson

T

o deliver the goal of a low carbon economy there are two generations of construction industry professionals that must be fully engaged. The first is the one that is currently responsible for

decision-making, detailing the plans for future change and starting the reform. The second is the generation that will, in future decades, have to see the reforms through and maintain the momentum. Only if we can lay the right foundations will this second generation, my generation, be able to achieve our goals. That is why the UK Innovation & Growth Team

(IGT), a cross-industry body set up by government to assess the state of the construction sector, includes a group dedicated to young professionals charged with exploring the vision for the industry from 2020 to 2050. On behalf of CIBSE, and as an eligible member of the second generation, I sit on the IGT 2050 Group. This is despite the fact that I am currently planning to draw my government pension in 2048 – although I’m sure that legislative changes will keep me working well beyond 2050! During the IGT 2050 Group’s first meeting with

chief construction adviser Paul Morrell, it quickly became clear that one of the biggest stumbling blocks is the existence of more than 300 institutions, groups and networks operating in the construction sector. A key question, and one that has become the basis for one of the 2050 Group’s two ‘uncertainties’ in our scenario planning, is: How can we set and achieve common goals when our industry is so fragmented? Our second ‘uncertainty’ relates to the apparent

lack of direction from government. Which of the mainstream political parties in Britain, we asked, would ever propose policy and regulations that would guarantee a low carbon economy without risking alienating the majority of the population? While the population is apathetic about or unaware

of the need for climate change reform – or simply unable to afford the measures that would be required to achieve the low carbon economy – the familiar empty ideology and plethora of targets (without coherent plans of how we should reach them) will predominate. Four-year political voting cycles are not ideal for setting long-term, planet-changing goals.

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CIBSE Journal May 2010

Don’t get me wrong – we were not looking to

deflect the blame, but simply to acknowledge that the political parties will only offer what they perceive their potential voters want to hear. Our second uncertainty was, therefore, a well-informed population aware of the challenges and opportunities of the transition to a low carbon economy, versus a protectionist population, denying the need for climate change reform. Our conclusions were

predictably stark: we were unanimous in the view that the most favourable scenario is a joined-up, collaborative industry able to lead transition to a low carbon agenda backed by a supportive population. However, this is not the current reality, and neither government policy nor industry strategies are leading us that way. The general view was that, given the current trends, the construction industry will remain fragmented and follow change rather than lead it. With the next government in the UK about to be

elected for the next four crucial years – assuming there’s no constitutional crisis arising from a hung parliament – the ITG 2050 Group will be exploring both uncertainties in more detail in the hope that the second generation will be able to influence and start laying the foundations with the first. In particular, we will be addressing what drivers can help the industry lead the agenda and be more integrated in its responses in the long term. It will, inevitably, fall to my generation to set the

example by creating a culture rooted in collaboration and mutual goal sharing – that is our task and it will require us to demolish many of the professional boundaries established by previous generations of engineers, architects and others. l

Morwenna Wilson works for Arup and is a leading member of the CIBSE Young Engineers’ Network. This column represents her personal views.

It will fall to us to set the example

by creating a culture rooted in collaboration and mutual goal sharing

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