Survey on the Role of Engineers in Addressing Climate Change

Every day, engineers are leading the way to build a greener and more environmentally sustainable energy future. In November of 2023, IEEE PES commissioned Park Street Stategies to conduct a nationwide survey to gauge the public’s perception of climate change, and specifically the role of engineers in driving solutions to combat climate change. Climate change and extreme weather are top environmental concerns nationwide. A majority are optimistic that technology is the key to addressing our climate future. IEEE PES can and should be more vocal about the innovative work engineers are doing to progress climate solutions.

Below are some Key Takeaways:
- 72% view an outdated electric grid presents the biggest energy-related challenge, followed by government mandates and net-zero goals being misaligned with the current energy infrastructure realities.
- 50% worry that it may be difficult to reverse climate change on a global scale but 60% believe that technology is the key to addressing it.
- More than a third has little understanding of the role that engineers play in addressing climate change.
- Respondents trust engineers the most to find solutions to achieving a clean energy future, more so than researchers, environmental advocacy groups, utility companies, or government agencies.
- 79% believe that engineers have the knowledge and skill set to research and develop new forms of renewables.

What does that mean for IEEE and PES?
- Most respondents view engineers positively and acknowledge that they play a key role in addressing climate change, but do not understand what that role is. Educating the public about their role would be beneficial.
- A large majority – 82% – expressed an interest in learning more about what engineers are doing, or planning to do, to address climate change.
- Messages that provide concrete examples of what engineers do to address climate change (e.g., constructing green buildings, monitoring environmental conditions, reducing electronic waste, etc.) resonate the most.
- Engineers are most often described with positive terms such as “innovative,” “creative,” and “smart.” When it comes to describing our energy future, the word “sustainable” resonates the most, followed by “cleaner.” Words like “smart,” “modernized,” and “engineered” resonate less.