The ICE has established its new Sustainability Guidance Panel (SGP) which will provide guidance on how the ICE can take a leading role in embedding sustainability within the Civil Engineering profession. 

ICE has established a new Sustainability Guidance Panel (SGP) to provide guidance on how we can take a leading role in embedding sustainability within the Civil Engineering profession. 

Do you specialise in sustainable development?

We are calling on ICE members and professionals with a specific interest and specialism in sustainable development to volunteer their services as part of the panel’s wider community of experts. For more details of how to get involved, see the end of this article.

What are the panel’s aim and objectives?

After continued discussion between ICE and stakeholders; six objectives were identified, including:

• The transition to an over-arching guidance group formed of multi-disciplinary member;
• The need to improve communication to members on issues related to sustainability;
• The production, collection and dissemination of best practice, case studies and guidance
  
• The need to deliver the priority actions laid out in the ICE’s Low Carbon infrastructure trajectory – 2050 report;
  
• The need to raise the profile of whole-life costing and value;
  
• The need to consider sustainability beyond the realm of civil engineering.

The aim is to utilise the expertise within ICE membership and related professions to encourage the adoption of sustainable practice, design, materials, construction and maintenance of civil infrastructure.

Why is this so important?

ICE believes that sustainable development is central to civil engineering. The civil engineering industry and profession must play its full role in the creation and maintenance of sustainable communities in harmony with their natural environment. The Institution expects every member to understand, foster and promote the concepts of sustainable development and recognise the need to deliver projects with an appropriate balance between environmental, social and economic factors.

How will the SGP operate and how is it governed?

The SGP will operate within the governance framework of the ICE’s Learned Society Committee (LSC) created to oversee the Learned Society function of ICE. The LSC is responsible to Council for ICE’s knowledge transfer function. It has formally delegated responsibility for the delivery of ICE’s policies (and by extension policy related activities such as consultation responses), and provides an LS activity programme for Council approval as part of the annual business plan.

The activity of the SGP will be directed by an Executive Group, which is composed of sustainability experts from both academia and industry who have been selected to establish and deliver the outputs of the SGP, and ensure that the desired outcomes are achieved. 

Who will be on the SGP Executive Group?

The SGP and its Executive Group will be managed by Innovation Executive, Rob Curd. Members of the SGP Executive Group include:

• Paul Jowitt (Chair) – Professor of Civil Engineering Systems, Herriot Watt University and Executive Director, SISTech
• Bill Addis – Consulting Engineer, Buro Happold
• Kate Cairns – Independent Sustainability Advisor, Director of CEEQUAL Ltd, Chair of ICE North East Sustainability Panel, Founder of SeeMeSaveMe
• John Dora – Independent Consultant and Chair of National Infrastructure Operators Adaptation Forum
• Heather Cruickshank – Lecturer, University of Cambridge, Centre for Sustainable Development
• Stephanie Glendinning – Reader in Environmental Geotechnics, Newcastle University and member of the ICE’s Geotechnical Engineering and Structures Panels
• Ian Jenkinson – Associate, the Stilwell Partnership LLP, former Chair & Honorary Editor of ICE Municipal Engineer and Member of ICE Municipal Expert Panel
• John Parry – Independent consultant to the Waterman Group and Member of the ICE Transport Expert Panel
• Nigel Sagar - Senior Sustainability Manager, Sustainability & Green Division, Skanska.
• Perry Shard - Sustainability Delivery Manager, Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering, ICE North West Environment & Sustainability Special Interest Group, ICE Merseyside Branch Committee and CEEQUAL Verifier & Technical Advisory Group.