Foreword: Turning climate commitment into action

Mike Cook, Chair of the IStructE Climate Emergency Task Group, introduces a new 'Climate emergency' section in The Structural Engineer .

You must have wondered, probably increasingly, what the profession of structural engineering will look like in future. The authors of the papers in this special issue certainly have. They provide a glimpse into some of the possibilities which lie around the corner for us.

The number and diversity of materials in use in structures is increasing. This presents opportunities for engineers, but also poses challenges in how to continue to provide technical advice over such a wide range of materials.