Environmental Engineering for the 21st Century

Environmental Engineering for the 21st Century

Addressing Grand Challenges

  • Publisher: National Academies Press
  • ISBN: 9780309476522
  • eISBN Pdf: 9780309476539
  • eISBN Epub: 9780309476553
  • Place of publication:  United States
  • Year of digital publication: 2019
  • Month: March
  • Pages: 121
  • DDC: 690
  • Language: English

Environmental engineers support the well-being of people and the planet in areas where the two intersect. Over the decades the field has improved countless lives through innovative systems for delivering water, treating waste, and preventing and remediating pollution in air, water, and soil. These achievements are a testament to the multidisciplinary, pragmatic, systems-oriented approach that characterizes environmental engineering.

Environmental Engineering for the 21st Century: Addressing Grand Challenges outlines the crucial role for environmental engineers in this period of dramatic growth and change. The report identifies five pressing challenges of the 21st century that environmental engineers are uniquely poised to help advance: sustainably supply food, water, and energy; curb climate change and adapt to its impacts; design a future without pollution and waste; create efficient, healthy, resilient cities; and foster informed decisions and actions.

  • Cover
  • Front Matter
  • Introduction
  • Grand Challenge 1: Sustainably Supply Food, Water, and Energy
  • Grand Challenge 2: Curb Climate Change and Adapt to Its Impacts
  • Grand Challenge 3: Design a Future Without Pollution or Waste
  • Grand Challenge 4: Create Efficient, Healthy, Resilient Cities
  • Grand Challenge 5: Foster Informed Decisions and Actions
  • The Ultimate Challenge for Environmental Engineering: Preparing the Field to Address a New Future
  • Endnotes
  • Figure Sources
  • Appendix A: Statement of Task
  • Appendix B: Biographical Sketches of Committee Members

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