The Chartership Bulletin: Sustainability and Chartership
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In 2023, the competency criteria for Chartered Geologist (CGeol) were revised to incorporate sustainability, which encompasses understanding environmental and social impacts; balancing economic development with environmental protection and social equity; minimising negative impacts; promoting resource efficiency; and fostering regenerative outcomes.
Here, both Chartered Geologists and Assessors discuss the ways in which sustainability may be considered in the Chartership application and interview process.
Driving change
The United Nations Brundtland Commission defines sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The work we do as geoscience professionals focuses on meeting the needs of the present, through mining of raw materials and construction of buildings and infrastructure, but it is vital that we also consider the needs of future generations. As geoscientists we are in a unique and powerful position to drive this change.
By expanding the principle of uniformitarianism, “The present is the key to the past”, to say “The present is the key to the future”, we must ask: What can we do now to make the future a better place? What will be the impact of our work in five, ten, one-hundred years’ time? When applying to have our competencies recognised through Chartership, all professionals should demonstrate awareness of sustainability.
Michael Trubshaw CGeol FGS (Ramboll) and Luke Johnstone CGeol FGS (AtkinsRéalis)
Assessors wish to understand a candidate’s direct involvement in matters relating to environment, net zero, sustainability and corporate social responsibility, either at a site or corporate level. As food for thought, here is a (non-exhaustive) list of some questions Assessors might ask:
- Who makes the relevant design decisions in your company?
- Provide examples of projects that were designed to achieve their goals whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions, freshwater consumption, waste generation and disposal (including soils), and safety risks, as well as enhancing ecology and biodiversity.
- Can you demonstrate awareness of opportunities for carbon reduction, recycling or use of alternative materials in your projects?
- Show evidence for a design outcome that had restoration, ecology or biodiversity as an aim at outset, rather than an afterthought.
- Are you aware of the environmental and/or social setting of the site?
- Demonstrate how sustainability has been assessed and sustainable practices identified and adopted (for example, contaminated groundwater or site assessment in the context of the SuRF-UK Sustainability Remediation Framework and Sustainable Management Practices, the Environment Agency’s Land Contamination Risk Management guidance and ISO 18504: 2017).
- Aside from reuse of site-won material (which is now a prerequisite to many planning conditions in the UK), can you provide examples of how geological site investigation data were used to avoid overdesigning structures (such as using a detailed ground design model or additional site investigation to safely minimise piling depths, thereby saving materials and effort to install)?
- Provide examples of project delivery that achieved effective, safe and timely risk management whilst reducing the environmental footprint, improving project social performance, and spending money prudently.
- How many trees or how much wetland has your company created?
- How many (and what) jobs are created locally, either directly or in the supply chain?
- Can you demonstrate awareness of the market and uses of your operational products (e.g., limestone for sugar beet processing, zeolites for purifying cooking oil)?
- How much does your project contribute to the local economy?
- Can you demonstrate measures taken to promote a positive work culture, thereby reducing staff turnover, sickness rates, and recruitment costs?
- Does the candidate display a realistic passion for contributing to matters of sustainability?
Ruth Allington (Quarrying and minerals, Allington Collaborative Problem Solving Ltd)
Christian Dodge (Engineering geology, ATC Williams)
Jonathan Smith (Contaminated land and hydrogeology, Shell)
Duncan Wardrop (Quarrying and minerals, Wardrop Minerals Management)
