All engineers should be life cycle engineers with a mindset for absolute sustainability

This paper advocates for the education of all engineers as life cycle engineers, with a focus on absolute sustainability and a just transition. Life cycle assessment (LCA) plays a key role in this, enabling engineers to quantify the environmental impacts of products and processes. To support sustainable development, engineered solutions must align with the earth’s biophysical limits, ensuring they respect environmental boundaries. Engineers should be trained to consider life cycle thinking and sustainability in their work, clearly stating whether their professional activities meet these limits. The paper proposes nine essential competencies that should be integrated into engineering education, supported by a curriculum of four key courses. These competencies are meant to complement, not replace, the specialized knowledge engineers require in their respective fields. Additionally, we propose that engineers take an oath, similar to the Hippocratic Oath for doctors, to uphold ethical responsibilities to society and the planet. This could foster a mindset where engineers prioritize sustainability in their work, contributing to a future where engineering serves both people and environmental preservation.