World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development: A Message from Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO
| Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, in a message marking World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development on 4 March 2025, emphasized the essential role of engineers in addressing global challenges and building a more sustainable and equitable future. Referring to the need for scientific innovation and international cooperation, she highlighted engineering as a key tool for addressing the environmental, social and economic challenges facing the world today. |
In Jules Verne’s famous novel, the shipwreck survivors stranded on a mysterious island regain hope when Cyrus Smith, the engineer among them, appears on the island safe and sound. By identifying the island’s resources and building furnaces and tools, he transforms it into a place where they can live.
Just as Cyrus Smith improved living conditions on the island, engineers today are addressing some of the major challenges facing the modern world through innovation. These include promoting more inclusive growth, addressing climate change and biodiversity loss, tackling water scarcity, developing renewable energy, and building a more equitable and sustainable world in the face of digital divides. More than ever, we need scientific innovation to help address these global challenges.
The UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science
World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions of engineers to improving our world.
For engineering to operate effectively and sustainably, it must be open, inclusive and collaborative. It was in this spirit that UNESCO’s Recommendation on Open Science was adopted by UNESCO Member States in November 2021.
UNESCO is also committed to reducing inequalities in engineering, not only in terms of gender; women currently account for only 28 per cent of engineering graduates, but also geographically. This is particularly important in sub-Saharan Africa, which has the lowest number of engineers compared with other regions of the world.
To address these challenges, UNESCO brings engineers from around the world together to showcase their innovations through collaborative projects. One such initiative is the hackathon, hosted by the World Federation of Engineering Organizations in cooperation with UNESCO. At this event, students from diverse backgrounds and communities work together to develop practical solutions to real-world challenges.
Looking ahead, a collective and global approach to engineering will be essential for building a more sustainable world capable of responding to future challenges. On World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development, UNESCO emphasizes that a better future can be built through cooperation and shared innovation.
