You’re concerned about climate change. What can Environmental Engineers do to help?

Environmental engineers can address climate change by developing sustainable solutions such as renewable energy systems, green infrastructure, and carbon capture technologies. They design resilient infrastructure to withstand climate-related hazards like floods and storms. Additionally, they conduct research to assess and mitigate the environmental impacts of human activities. Through policy advocacy and public education, they raise awareness about climate change and promote sustainable practices. By integrating principles of environmental conservation into engineering projects, they play a crucial role in mitigating climate change and fostering a more sustainable future.

It would be ideal if the depts of environment and climate change worked together to look at water management as part of how we tackle climate change. I would love to see policy change where new builds considered water conservation to a level of spec so that every new home built could have that as normal. This would mean a large percentage of future housing stock would be contributing to sustainability and we could then tackle the older housing stock using innovative techniques.

Environmental engineers can address climate change impacts on water management through various strategies, including developing sustainable infrastructure, implementing water conservation measures, enhancing water treatment, managing stormwater and flooding, protecting water quality, adapting coastal infrastructure, and promoting integrated water resource management. Their efforts aim to ensure the availability and quality of water resources for present and future generations.

We will have a proper plan to ensure every raw material will produce less waste and has proper management including reusing, recycling, and selecting the best waste management. In terms of electricity, we practice properly shutting down the pc during rest and before back home( it may be difficult because sometimes we remotely use our pc at the office, WFH). As Environmental Engineer, we may urge people to be aware of our behavior 1st then do an activity or campaign annually.

Un punto importante en esto es el implementar Plantas de Tratamiento de Aguas residuales en las ciudades del mundo; en especial de países en desarrollo. Pues la contaminación del agua por la gran carga orgánica ha eutrofizado ríos que cada vez se hacen más difíciles de restaurar. Actualmente hay varios estudios de formas sostenibles de implementar una PTAR. También es importante el uso del medio biotico, hay plantas que tienen la habilidad de filtrar ciertos contaminantes permitiendo la eliminación de estos en el agua. El Agua tiene su ciclo y tiene la habilidad de restaurarse sola, pero debemos contribuir a ello también.

Environmental engineers can design and develop sustainable technologies that reduce carbon emissions and other pollutants. For example, they can work on developing more efficient renewable energy sources, like wind and solar power, and work on carbon capture and storage technologies.

If we look more closely , Small experiments can become experience for larger activities. Also, the experiences of other projects can lead to the implementation of a large environmental project. For example ; In one of the land leveling projects; Experiments : Production of agricultural soil by A kind of earthworm , converting wet waste at home into agricultural soil . Along with ; Research on soil reactions to a mixture of agricultural soils and poor soils . It led to the development and modification of tens of hectares of low quality land to more suitable soil. and using the experiences gained for other lands in the next projects. Using this experience and other similar experiences can have a great impact on improving the environment.

Environmental engineers should focus on biofuels such as biodiesel, bioethanol, and biohydrogen to reduce and combat air pollution.

Design and implement soil analysis techniques that evaluate soil health, biodiversity, water conservation, and carbon sequestration. Develop and apply soil restoration methods that enhance soil organic matter, structure, and water retention, which can mitigate the effects of climate change such as droughts, floods, and erosion. Adopt and promote climate-friendly soil management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from soil, such as minimizing tillage, increasing crop diversity, and using organic fertilizers.

In order to know which biological, chemical, or physical processes should be implemented to remove or degrade pollutants, environmental engineers must develop an environmental impact studying, in relation with human activities within the context of agricultur, mining, and urbanization.

As climate change impacts our environment, different approaches are essential to safeguard strategic water resources and soil remediation plays an important role in this endeavor. By restoring contaminated soil, we prevent the spread of groundwater contamination, achieving a dual benefit: protecting aquifers and mitigating soil-related risks. Consequently, we can reduce reliance on energy-intensive water treatment methods, such as desalination. Simultaneously, our priority remains ensuring groundwater resilience while promoting accessible, potable water and securing a healthy food supply chain for communities.

Environmental engineers specialized in climate change can contribute to soil remediation efforts by conducting comprehensive assessments using advanced technologies, designing tailored remediation strategies such as phytoremediation and bioremediation, and integrating sustainable practices like using native plants and crop rotation strategy, calculating the needed amount of nutrients to prevent leaching and degradation and renewable energy sources. Collaborating with stakeholders, ensuring regulatory compliance, and educating the public on soil contamination issues and sustainable land management are also crucial. By implementing these solutions we can promot environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change impacts.

Engineers can play a vital role in addressing climate change in the soil remediation sector by applying biofertilizers. Biofertilizers are organic materials containing living microorganisms that enhance soil fertility and improve plant growth.

Energy efficiency should become a high priority in engineering, and for environmental engineers, one of their main focuses. A modest increase in energy efficiency, say maybe 1-2% per year, will have massive gains in terms of reducing energy consumption over time, making meeting greenhouse gas emissions targets easier and renewable energy systems more realistic to implement. Put simply, a world without energy efficiency is a world without decarbonization.

If we look more carefully, we will see that it is the excessive increase of carbon in the air that has caused the negative effects of climate change and global warming. If this same carbon enters the soil, it will strengthen the soil and grow more plants and agricultural products. Therefore, by filtering the carbon in the way of the pollutants (especially by using water), it is possible to absorb the carbon entering the air and return it to the soil. With this, we can not only reduce air pollution, but also strengthen the soil.

Microalgae are versatile as they can be grown in different environments. Therefore, Microalgae can be the green gold of the future, to solve the problems of non-renewable energy.

Renewable energy and energy efficiency provide an effective combo for decarbonization. For environmental engineers specifically, renewable energy systems also tend to produce less pollutants in general, reducing the amount of air and water quality impacts of energy generation while also decarbonizing development. Environmental engineers concerned about climate change can implement renewable energy to reach clean air and water targets while also protecting the climate. This should become the standard.

Engineers play a fundamental role in integrating renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, into existing infrastructure. Studies published in "Renewable Energy" have shown that the effective integration of renewable energies can reduce carbon emissions by up to 50-80%, depending on local conditions and available infrastructure.

One of the most important challenges in using clean energy is the distance between energy production and consumption. The best case is that the place of energy production is close to the energy transmission system. Because in this situation energy transfer is done at a lower cost. But if the distance between the place of energy consumption and the place of production is far, the cost of transporting the produced energy will increase. Therefore, the production of hydrogen as a clean fuel will be one of the main ways to transfer energy. In this situation, in order to reduce the fuel transportation cost, it is necessary to reduce the amount of energy storage per volume unit as much as possible. (like using hydrogen plasma)

El uso del recurso sol como fuente de energía en países con un gran potencial de ello, por ejemplo Ecuador, al estar en el centro del mundo los rayos caen perpendicularmente y hay luz solar todos los días del a?o. En Australia se crearon paneles solares que basados en la biomomesis, se han inspirado en el girasol. Creando así paneles solares que se mueven tal como lo hace un girasol. Adicionalmente tiene sistemas de autolimpieza que al momento que el sol se va y se cierran los petalos, al abrirse al día siguiente unos cepillos integrados permiten que no haya polvo u otro contaminante que impida la recolección de energía.

Climate adaptation involves strategies and actions taken to adjust and prepare for the impacts of climate change. This can include measures such as building seawalls to protect against rising sea levels, implementing drought-resistant crops in agriculture, developing early warning systems for extreme weather events, and designing resilient infrastructure. By adapting to the changing climate, communities and ecosystems can better withstand and recover from its effects, reducing vulnerability and enhancing long-term sustainability.

Algumas das formas de auxiliar as empresas, e assim contribuir para o atingimento das metas do Acordo de Paris, cooperando ainda com a NDC assumida pelo Brasil é: - Elaborar inventário de Emiss?es de Gases de Efeito Estufa corporativos, seguindo as diretrizes do GHG Protocol e IPCC; - Trabalhar para a descarboniza??o (mitiga??o das emiss?es) nas empresas; - E, por fim, compensar as emiss?es, por meio da compra de créditos de carbono.

In fact, one of the biggest sources of clean energy is the heat inside the earth. Usually, to extract this energy, we dig deep into the ground to reach the magma. Then, according to the contact surface with magma, we extract a part of its energy. If by directing the magma to another part (which we have already prepared ourselves) And by increasing the contact surface, we can receive more energy. Also, in some parts of the earth, such as Finland and even Spain, magma has reached the surface of the earth. But working in these extraordinary places is dangerous. While with the help of robotics, we can reduce its risk to humans and extract more energy with the help of robots.

Para llegar a la adaptación al cambio climático debemos inspirarnos en la naturaleza, actualmente hay varios estudios de BIOMIMESIS que nos podrían ayudar a conseguir resultados óptimos y eficientes. Además de instaurar en todos los sistemas productivos un ideal de economía circular. Y la servitización de productos.

Climate adaptation requires assessing and managing risks, with community involvement in strategy development. Varying climate impacts call for collaborative approaches, such as risk mapping and tailored plans, to enhance resilience. Public investments for resilient infrastructures are vital, alongside research into predicting and early warning of extreme climate events. Environmental engineers can utilize diverse methodologies, including projecting resilient solutions, adopting risk mapping and alert systems, and fostering cooperation for sustainable climate responses.

Pollution Reduction. Absolutely, water pollution is a significant contributor to the deterioration of marine ecosystems, which can have far-reaching consequences for both the environment and human. The impact of water pollution on oceans and its connection to climate change can be extended to Ocean Acidification, Impacts on Coastal Communities, ..etc. Environmental Engineer can design and set solutions to treat the wastewater discharges before entering the ecosystems. Also, he/she can collaborate with others to improve wastewater treatment infrastructure, promote sustainable land and water management practices, and raise awareness about the importance of protecting marine ecosystems for the health of the planet and future generations.

Se debe tener una gestión de residuos eficiente, empezar con lo más fácil (reciclar) e ir a lo más complicado (Cambio en la red de suministro del producto o servicio). Un buen reciclado nos permitirá tener materias primas secundarias con mejor calidad permitiendo el ingreso de estas en los procesos productivos, disminuyendo la necesidad de costos adicionales para limpieza y acondicionamiento de estos residuos para su uso posterior. Otro punto debe ser reducir el consumo del fast fashion, el textil es más contaminante que el plástico.

Several engineering projects focused on transition from fossil fuels towards green fuels such as hydrogen and biomass, only for mentioning some of the current best options, are being carried out in European Union countries. Specifically in Portugal, Sines, several projects have been started from basic and detailed engineering phase till construction, and all of those projects are relationed with the promising decision of industrial processes start using renewable energies to process activation.

Environmental Geo-engineering approach can be used to reduce the effect of climate change but the most important solution is the education of the general public on how to mitigate the risk of climate change and how to imply hybrid solution which includes the natural approach and the engineering approach. The plantation of trees can help in the massive capture of greenhouse gases on terrain while studying ocean dynamics to propose ocean based solution in capturing CO2 because the ocean help regulate the earth. Making policies that binds industrial activity which helps minimize the amount of greenhouse gases release into the atmosphere.

Issues of environmental degradation is extremely serious. Other than technical engineering aspect social and behavioral engineering is very important to tackle issues related to environment. Once we start giving back to environment more than what we are taking , the problem will start reducing. This each individual human being should adopt in his or her life. Individual should treat the nature like the way we treat our most beloved one.