How Environmental Engineering Can Help Climate Change? | COP26 Conference

Nowadays, news channels on television are full of news regarding the adverse effects of global warming on climate. It means everybody on international television is talking about rising sea levels, shrinking mountain glaciers, changes in flower and plant blooming times, and Ice melting at a faster rate than usual in Greenland, Antarctica, and the Arctic.

What do you think is why the whole world is concerned about climate change? Is their concern justified? Why are the news channels and leading international organizations that commit to climate action are so worried about it? Well, we have listed some of the highlights that will answer all your questions regarding the ongoing climate change conditions:

Since 1880 the temperature has risen by 0.14° F (0.08° C) per decade. Over the past 40 years, the rate of warming has doubled, increasing by 0.32° F (0.18° C) per decade. 

According to NOAA temperature data, the year 2020 was the second warmest year. On the other hand, the ten warmest years have been recorded since 2005.

From 1900 to 1980, the temperature changed every 13.5 years, but from 1981 to 2019, it has reduced to 3 years. And, this is the reason that the duration of winter is much shorter than that of summer. 

Furthermore, climate change can also threaten people with food and water scarcity, increased flooding, extreme heat, more disease, and economic loss. We hope now you can understand that climate change is a severe threat and it is the root cause of Seasonal affective disorder (SAD). 

Before we proceed further, the COP26 conference was also held in order to discover ways to neutralize this threat. Let’s have a look at its purpose and importance:

COP26 - Overview & Importance 

To find ways to subdue the deadly effect of climate change, the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as COP26, was the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference, held at the SEC Centre in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, from 31 October to 13 November 2021. 

COP26 intended to tackle the harmful effect of climate change. As a result, everyone concluded that clean energy is very important to achieve the goal of reaching net-zero by 2050. Moreover, the professionals at the COP26 conference focused on finding ways to deliver cleaner, greener, energy from building interconnectors to make clean energy in use, and investing in renewable energy generation.

So, what do you think about how we can get rid of this deadly threat? To get all this in control, we need more and more Environmental Engineers. Therefore, in this post, we will talk about Environmental Engineers. And, by the completion of this post, you will be able to understand what they do, their work environment, and how to become Environmental Engineers. So, let's get started:

What Environmental Engineers Do?

Now the question arises - What exactly does an Environmental Engineer do? Well, Environmental Engineers are the professionals that use the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems. Additionally, they work to improve recycling, waste disposal, public health, and water and air pollution control. They also address global issues, such as unsafe drinking water, climate change, and environmental sustainability.

On the flip side, if we talk about the duties of Environmental Engineers, they typically have the following set of responsibilities:

1. They prepare, review, and update Environmental Investigation Reports (EIR). 
2. Environmental Engineers used to design projects that lead to environmental protection, such as water reclamation facilities or air pollution control systems. 
3. Obtain, update, and maintain plans, permits, and standard operating procedures. 
4. Provide technical support for environmental remediation projects and legal actions. 
5. Environmental Engineers analyze scientific data and do quality-control checks. Also, they monitor the progress of environmental improvement programs. 
6. They inspect industrial and municipal facilities and programs to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
7. Last but not the least, they advise corporations and government agencies about procedures for cleaning up contaminated sites.

Apart from this, Environmental Engineers investigate the ways to neutralize the effects of acid rain, climate change, automobile emissions, and ozone depletion. Also, they cooperate with environmental scientists, urban and regional planners, hazardous-waste technicians, and other engineers to discuss environmental problems and environmental sustainability.

Environmental Engineers Work Conditions

If you check the global climate statistics, you will find that Environmental engineering has a bright scope and a golden plethora of career opportunities in the future. On the other hand, if we talk about stats, approximately 52,300 new Environmental Engineers were appointed in 2020. Following are some of the largest employers of environmental engineers:

Engineering Services -27%

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services - 19%

State Government - 13%

Local Government - 7%

Federal Government - 6%

Environmental Engineers work in a variety of settings because of the nature of the tasks they do:

Firstly, when Environmental Engineers work with other engineers or with urban and regional planners, they are likely to be in offices.

Secondly, when they used to work with business people and lawyers, they used to be at seminars, presenting information and answering questions.

Next, when Environmental Engineers work with hazardous materials removal workers and environmental scientists, they work at specific sites outdoors.

How to Become an Environmental Engineer?

If you are interested and want to be an Environmental Engineer, you must have a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering or a related field, such as civil, chemical, or general engineering. On the other hand, if you have already completed that, you can also pursue a two-year P.G program in Environmental Engineering. 

A Master's program in environmental engineering will guide you through some of the grave issues such as sustainable and renewable energy generation, climate change, waste management, drinking water provision, or aging of urban infrastructure.

Conclusion

No doubt, Environmental Engineering has a vast scope in the future, so if you are willing to pursue a P.G program in it, you can definitely go with it. Remember, quality comes first, and when it comes to education, it is an investment in your future. Therefore, choose Chandigarh University for M.E. Environmental Engineering. 

At Chandigarh University, we offer a two-year P.G program in Environmental Engineering in full-time mode and a three-year P.G program part-time for working individuals. Chandigarh University offers the maximum facilities to its postgraduate students to make them industry-ready and a perfect fit for the top recruiting companies. So, what are you waiting for? Apply now!