Transport UK in Paris for UNESCO's World Engineering Day Launch
Merseyrail’s Greg Suligowsi recounts his experience of representing Transport UK at UNESCO’s World Engineering Day in Paris.
On March 3rd, I had the privilege of attending UNESCO’s World Engineering Day in Paris on behalf of Transport UK. The theme, Unleashing the Power of Engineers to Advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), highlighted the important role of science and engineering in sustainable development. It was a great opportunity for insightful discussions and to showcase the important role Transport UK is playing in advancing sustainability via our innovative and industry-leading transport solutions in Britain.
The event started with discussions on how innovative engineering can drive real change for the SDGs. A key theme throughout was the importance of embedding sustainability at the core of today's decisions, ensuring they lead to practical, long-term solutions for years to come.
Another key takeaway was the discussion of the importance of engineers at all levels and in all industries engaging with policymakers, ensuring that informed, sustainable choices are made regarding future investment and technology development. The discussions also talked about emerging technologies and AI, which provided valuable insights into how engineering is pushing boundaries while exploring the positive impacts and potential challenges of these technologies from an engineering perspective.
As I met people from different industries and from all over the world, it reaffirmed the critical role transport plays in the global push for sustainability. Transport UK is rolling out innovative, sustainable solutions across its network to reduce emissions, enhance community safety, and support the UN’s SDG #11: building safer, more sustainable cities.
We introduced battery-operated trains in Liverpool, and Greater Anglia is currently exploring how hydrogen-powered trains could be introduced to the UK rail network. In London, all TUK bus depots are now fully equipped with charging stations to power its fleet of electric buses, and discussions are underway on how these charging facilities can be used to power blue light services across the city.
The event celebrated the talent and dedication of engineers worldwide. It was inspiring to see how Transport UK is part of a global conversation on sustainability and how we are all working towards building a brighter future.