The coronavirus lockdown has caused new construction projects to plummet by a huge percentage from last year. The global supply chain has stagnated, boding ill for any construction activity.

Our buildings account for more than 40% of our worldwide use of energy and account for one-third of our greenhouse gas emissions. This is true for both the world's developed and emerging areas.

Engineers have played a significant role in shaping global societal and economic developments throughout history. But now is a good time to address whether we’ve got things right.