Relaunch of ethical principles statement between the Royal Academy of Engineering and Engineering Council

23 February 2026

As part of Chartered Week (23-27 February) the Engineering Council and the Royal Academy of Engineering have updated their joint Statement on Ethical Principles for the engineering profession, first published over 20 years ago.

Ethical commitments are at the heart of the role of a registered engineer - and everyone who works in engineering. The new statement reflects the changing technology environment and the new challenges faced by engineers today.

The five fundamental principles for ethical behaviour and decision-making are designed to form the core codes of conduct published by the professional engineering institutions. An important new fifth ethical principle has been added, focusing on engineers’ responsibility for the future of technology, society, and the environment.

The five ethical principles outlined are:

1. Honesty and integrity
2. Responsibility to society
3. Accuracy and rigour
4. Leadership and communication
5. Responsibility for the future of technology, society, and the environment

For more information please visit: raeng.org.uk/ethics and EngineeringCouncil.

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