Civil Engineering Professional Engineer Practice Exam 2025 - Free PE Practice Questions and Study Guide

The primary goal of environmental engineering is to protect human health and the environment. This discipline focuses on the design and implementation of systems that manage pollution, waste, and natural resources in a way that mitigates adverse effects on the ecosystem and public health. Environmental engineers develop methods and technologies to treat wastewater, manage solid waste, control air pollution, and ensure the safe use of land and water resources, thereby promoting a sustainable balance between human needs and environmental integrity.

While improving transportation systems, developing renewable energy sources, and enhancing urban planning and development are important objectives within civil and environmental engineering, they serve specific contexts within the broader mission of protecting human health and the environment. For example, sustainable transportation and urban planning initiatives can certainly contribute to environmental health, but they are not the sole focus of environmental engineering. The core principle remains centered on safeguarding both the environment and human populations from potential harm due to industrial activities and urbanization.