Environmental Engineering 101: Building a Sustainable Future

Before exploring the nuances, importance, and growth of the environmental engineering sector in the 21st century, one must ask themselves the following questions: What is sustainability? Why is it something needed now? How can environmental engineering be the key linchpin of achieving a sustainable future?

As is the case with many words, the meaning of sustainability lies in the word Sustainability itself; it is the ability to maintain, or rather sustain a process over a period of time. When it comes to the environment, sustainability is vital to ensure that the resources provided by the environment are handled in a way that not only meets the current needs of the entire world population, but also does not, in any way, limit the potential of future generations meeting their needs.

This is where the key problem lies: the current generation consumes resources in a way that is not only unsustainable, but it also consumes too many resources, in an inefficient manner, which, coupled with other environmental crises in the world, makes it a humungous challenge to provide adequate resources for the bare survival of large portion of the human population in the world today. Environmental sustainability is a problem that has lasted since 50000 BCE, but is a problem that has accelerated over the last century with the boom in the Industrial Revolution and the population growth, and continues to grow to an equivalent of 1000 megaton of TNT, having fatal consequences for the entire planet when the flare finally runs out.

So the question is, how is environmental engineering going to be a key aspect of diffusing this 1000 megaton of TNT, and, most importantly, before the flare runs out?

Environmental engineering is a discipline where engineering principles and environmental science are used to nurture technologies that alleviate and treat problems related to the air, water, and biomass of the planet, in-order to protect the human population as well as existing biodiversity and ecosystems from the fatal consequences of a deteriorating environment, and help improve the state of Mother Nature surrounding us.

Just as the environment surrounds us all, the work of an environmental engineer and the sector of environmental engineering encompasses huge and diverse spheres of the world. Following are the just a few of the sector's main aims and responsibilities:

Public Health Protection

• Efficient systems tailored to perfect waste disposal and recycling methods are one of the most important requirements of engineers in this field, a challenging task as one system isn't perfect for regions in the world.

• Systems designed to purify water and ensure potable drinking water for people is another vital contribution from environmental engineers.

Environmental Preservation

• Pollution control by creating technologies that aim to treat and reduce emissions from industrial processes, and inhibit air and water pollution is another vital aspect of this sector, which requires a creative and calm mind to deal with.

• Environmental engineers also work on projects that prevent habitat destruction to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem functionality.

Sustainable Development

• Environmental engineers focus on the sustainable use of natural resources, such as developing renewable energy systems and improving energy efficiency.

• They play a crucial role in designing strategies and technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change.

Compliance with Regulations

• Engineers ensure that industries and municipalities comply with environmental laws and regulations, which are crucial for preventing environmental degradation.

• This is an extremely important aspect of environmental engineering, as environmental challenges like climate change, pollution, and resource scarcity are global issues. Environmental engineers work on international projects and navigate international law to address these challenges, making their work essential for global sustainability.

Innovation and Research

• Environmental engineers drive innovation by developing new technologies that reduce environmental impact, such as biodegradable materials, water-efficient irrigation systems, and air purification technologies. The term green technologies is often used to describe such innovations nurtured by environmental engineers.

• They contribute to creating resilient infrastructures that can withstand natural disasters, ensuring long-term environmental and human well-being.

"The industry is also shifting towards more flexible work environments, with a growing trend of contract-based and project-specific roles. This flexibility is particularly relevant for environmental engineers, who are often needed for short-term projects requiring specialized expertise. This trend is seen as a response to the dynamic nature of environmental challenges and the need for adaptable, innovative solutions​". Written by the Deloitte United States, the paper emphasizes the creative and healthy mindset required of engineers in this highly demanding industry.

Just like how Mother Nature is nurturing and giving of all of her resources to everyone who calls Earth home, environmental engineers work in a similar way, with a creative and adaptive approach, to nurture technologies that accommodate everyone and continue to provide resources in a sustainable manner.

And as we conclude, let's acknowledge it once more : environmental engineering as a field is growing, in size and importance. The world is going to depend heavily on this sector in the 21st century and later years. Let's spread the message #Envirogineering #Envirogineers