Sustainability
Building a sustainable future through alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, addressing global challenges in climate action, social equity, and economic prosperity.
Sustainability News
View recent newsSustainability Resources
View our resourcesGet Involved with ASME
View ways to engage
Engineering Solutions for a Sustainable Future
Since 1880, ASME has taken on society's biggest and most technical challenges. Today, humanity faces one of its largest challenges ever: climate change. ASME leverages its leadership in innovation, technology, workforce development, and policy to catalyze urgent outcomes for a sustainable future.
Engineering the Next Industrial Revolution
Connecting the engineers who solve problems with the leaders who scale solutions
June 17–18, 2026 | Newlab Detroit & Michigan Central | Detroit, Michigan
The summit for engineers, investors, and ecosystem leaders building the clean industrial transformation.
Learn More & Register
Focus Areas:
⚡ Energy Demand
🏭 Industrial Transformation
🔧 Advanced Manufacturing
ASME leverages its influence in innovation and technology, policy, and the workforce in executing its approach across the three dimensions of sustainability.
|
Environmental Stewardship Enabling engineers in urgent efforts to protect and preserve our biosphere. Learn More |
Social Responsibility Ensuring inclusivity in the field and an equitable distribution of engineering's benefits. Learn More |
Economic Prosperity Emphasizing sustainable growth and prosperity in pursuit of a low-carbon economy. Learn More |
Blog: Sailing Toward Sustainable Cruising
As the popularity of cruising as a way to travel the world grows, so do the sizes of the passenger ships and the commitment by the industry to be stewards of the seas and oceans.
Learn More
Blog: More Electrified U.S. Railways Ahead?
As San Francisco-based Caltrain continues the rollout of its new electric fleet, the question of why so few U.S. railways are electrified resurfaces.
Learn More
Energy Blog: Is AI Too Power-Hungry for Our Own Good?
Artificial intelligence platforms may need gigawatts of electricity. But AI could offset that by unlocking new means for saving energy or producing clean power.
Learn More
The Fight to Decarbonize Needs Solar Workers
An obstacle in the fight to decarbonize with a solar energy solution is the need for workers. Cornell University researchers look at the solar workforce, job quality, and industry racial disparities.
Learn More
Unconventional Engineering Podcast
In the latest episode, ASME Executive Director/CEO Thomas Costabile chats with Sean Bradshaw and Timo Marquez, Chair and Vice-Chair of the ASME Committee on Sustainability, about ASME and engineering’s role in climate action.
Listen Now
Climate Pillars
- Promoting clean and affordable energy by greening the economy in a way that is as fair and inclusive as possible to everyone concerned, creating decent work opportunities and leaving no one behind.
- Advancing clean and efficient operations and elevating resiliency within ASME and industry at large.
- Upskilling the future workforce by educating current and next generation engineers to keep pace with evolving technologies and global climate challenges.
- Developing sustainable factories and manufacturing, particularly within hard-to-decarbonize industries, driving toward Industry 4.0.
Sustainable Development Pillars
- Preparing the international technical workforce with the critical skills and networks to improve quality of life of people and the planet through accessible insights, training and platforms.
- Building the capacity of social ventures and elevating the innovation quotient of tech-based solutions for low-resource settings.
- Connecting and mobilizing the global engineering community at every career stage toward opportunities to apply their skills for good.
- Ensuring that sustainability practices are infused into the core of engineering.
Climate Action
ASME leverages its leadership in innovation, technology, workforce development, and policy to catalyze urgent climate outcomes.
The Challenge
ASME exists to leverage the power of engineering to benefit humanity. The scale and complexity of climate change are unprecedented—a changing climate threatens the stability and sustainability of economies, ecosystems, and communities globally.
The Solution
Engineers have both an opportunity and responsibility to support and lead in global climate action. They possess the tools and training critical to generating, implementing, and advancing climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience technologies.
ASME's Climate Imperatives
- Supporting the global consensus of climate science and the IPCC's target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C
- Enabling engineers in accelerating the drive towards net-zero emissions and a carbon negative future
- Facilitating communication on climate policy among government, industry, and academia
- Developing and engaging the international engineering workforce for present and future climate challenges
- Aligning ASME's sustainability and climate strategy to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Leading by Example: ASME's GHG Emissions Measurement
ASME is the first North American engineering society to complete comprehensive greenhouse gas emissions measurement across all three scopes.
ASME Impact Levers
Workforce Development
Fostering technical expertise, advancing sustainability skills, and preparing engineers for the evolving challenges of the global energy transition through education, training, and collaboration with industry.
Responsible Technology and Innovation
Promoting the ethical development and deployment of technologies that prioritize sustainability, safety, and societal impact.
Policy Impact
Advocating for science-based, technology-driven policies that support the engineering community and address global challenges.
Join ASME and be part of a global network driving sustainable engineering solutions.
Make an impact—volunteer with ASME to advance sustainability in engineering.
Explore upcoming events and dive into the future of sustainable engineering.
Stay updated on the latest sustainability insights and innovations from ASME.